Jean Francis-Passley

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

Jean Francis-Passley, sole director of A1 Solicitors Limited, faced seven allegations. The Tribunal found allegations 1-6 substantiated, including breaches of conveyancing undertakings, failure to respond to correspondence, multiple Solicitors Accounts Rules breaches (books not written up, an £8,972.08 client account shortage, improper round sum transfers, using client account as a banking facility), accepting a £36,000 client loan without the client taking independent advice, and failing to file an Accountant's Report. Allegation 7 (permitting struck-off/suspended solicitors to conduct litigation) was not proven to the required standard. No express finding of dishonesty was made. Her adjournment application was refused and the matter proceeded in her absence. The Tribunal found a gross dereliction of duty bringing the profession into disrepute and ordered her struck off the Roll, with costs of £18,000.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Gross dereliction of duty
• Complete failure to engage in the disciplinary process
• Complete disregard for regulatory body by not answering correspondence
• Clients suffered as a result of misconduct
• Failure to repay the client loan