Chandrika Achala Devi URBAN

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

Solicitor Chandrika Urban faced 15 disciplinary charges involving gross overcharging, misappropriation of trust funds, improper trust account administration, breach of an undertaking, borrowing $50,000 from a client without ensuring independent advice, conflict of interest, and repeated failures to respond to statutory notices. She did not respond or appear. The Tribunal found professional misconduct across the charges, holding she committed serious breaches of honesty and trust at the heart of a solicitor's obligations. Her name was ordered removed from the local roll, she was ordered to pay $2,500 costs and $6,185 compensation to client John Tiplady. Though the conduct involved misappropriation and breaches of honesty, no express finding of 'dishonesty' as a defined term was made.

Duties found breached:

• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Fair, reasonable and lawful fees
• No own-interest conflict
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Prompt accounting and return of money
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Multiple serious charges (15 counts) across four clients
• Failure to respond to notices on such a scale showing near-contempt for professional obligations
• Overcharging more than double the fair amount to an injured client
• Compelling inference respondent had no real intention of repaying borrowed funds; prolonged default over six years
• Aggravated client's depressive condition
• No response filed, no appearance at directions hearings
• No mitigating circumstances or excuse offered