Natasha Simmon Schand - Aneet Kaur Garcha

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

Two partners of Eden Solicitors faced SDT proceedings. The First Respondent, Natasha Simmon Schand, was found to have dishonestly and improperly withdrawn over £160,000 of client monies for her own benefit (including gambling to try to recoup losses) and was convicted at Harrow Crown Court of fraud by abuse of position, sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment. The Tribunal expressly applied the Twinsectra test and found dishonesty. She was struck off and ordered to pay £10,000 costs. The Second Respondent, Aneet Kaur Garcha, was found to have abandoned the practice, allowing the misappropriation, and to have breached accounts, file-storage, cooperation and accountant's report obligations. She was suspended indefinitely (until she could prove fitness by medical evidence and work experience) and ordered to pay £4,500 costs. No dishonesty was found against the Second Respondent.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Handle inadvertently received material
• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports

Aggravating factors:

• Severe breach of trust as a solicitor abusing clients' funds
• Persistent and regular misappropriation over a period of about a year
• Minimum cash shortage of £162,914.40; £147,000 paid out by SRA Compensation Fund
• Second Respondent abandoned the practice, enabling misappropriation
• Second Respondent showed limited contrition and appreciation of responsibility

Mitigating factors:

• First Respondent self-reported the missing monies to the SRA
• First Respondent was frank and cooperated with police
• First Respondent had health problems and was out of her depth
• Character references provided
• Second Respondent was suffering from depression and stress (though no medical evidence produced)
• No previous disciplinary matters