Lawson Akhigbe

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

Lawson Akhigbe, a solicitor admitted in 2007, was found to have falsely represented to his client Mrs Sanni, to GT Stewart Solicitors and to the Clerkenwell and Shoreditch County Court that Kingsville Law Solicitors Limited was representing Mrs Sanni between September 2018 and April 2019, when it was not. He used Kingsville Law headed paper bearing the firm's address and SRA number despite having no affiliation with the firm. He also practised outside the SRA Practice Framework Rules and failed to progress Mrs Sanni's matter (having accepted a fixed fee). The Tribunal rejected his explanation that he was a consultant for the firm. All allegations were proved on the balance of probabilities, including an express finding of dishonesty under the Ivey test. He was struck off the roll of solicitors. He did not serve an Answer and left the hearing partway through, which proceeded in his absence.

Duties found breached:

• Act in the client's best interests
• Integrity
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• Not misrepresent regulated status
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty (expressly found and pleaded as an aggravating feature)
• Misled his own client, the opposing solicitors and the Court
• Used a law firm's name, address and SRA number without authority

Mitigating factors:

• Reported ill health including hospitalisations during the relevant period
• Family bereavement (loss of his father)