Richard Charles Cooper

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

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• No taking unfair advantage
• Protect capacity and vulnerable clients
• No improper use of client money
• Prompt accounting and return of money
• Supervise staff and delegated work
• Honour professional undertakings
• Not misrepresent regulated status

Aggravating factors:

• Total disregard of duties owed to clients
• No supervision whatsoever of a totally unqualified member of staff
• No protection for the loans made by lender clients
• Massive claims on the Solicitors Indemnity Fund resulted

Mitigating factors:

• No personal benefit/gain by the Respondent
• Respondent admitted six of the ten allegations and cooperated
• Respondent suffering from serious ill health
• Respondent retired from practice
• Testimonials submitted in support
• Respondent expressed shame and accepted responsibility