Sally Frances Keable

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

Sally Frances Keable, a sole practitioner, faced 15 allegations of conduct unbefitting a solicitor including extensive breaches of the Solicitors Accounts Rules, failure to provide client care information, utilising client funds, failing to reconcile accounts, ignoring Law Society correspondence and adjudicator decisions, and practising in breach of certificate conditions. A forensic inspection revealed a client account cash shortage of £221,307.30. The Tribunal found all allegations substantiated. No dishonesty was alleged or found. Given the number and seriousness of breaches and her non-attendance, the Tribunal imposed an indefinite suspension to protect the public, with liberty to apply for it to be lifted, and ordered costs to be assessed if not agreed (sought at £12,955.85).

Duties found breached:

• Not mislead the court
• Keep client informed and respond promptly
• Advise on alternatives, settlement and outcome
• Costs and fee transparency to client
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Account for interest on client money
• Hold a current practising certificate
• Report serious misconduct of others

Aggravating factors:

• Cash shortage on client account of £221,307.30 identified
• Repeated failures to respond to Law Society correspondence
• Failure to act on assistance and special measures offered at monitoring visits; practice largely unchanged between visits
• Continued in sole practice in breach of practising certificate conditions
• Did not know the true extent of shortage when guessing a £50,000 repayment
• Numerous and serious breaches over an extended period

Mitigating factors:

• No dishonesty alleged or found
• Paid £50,000 from her own resources intending to replace any shortage
• Acknowledged failings in correspondence
• Sad case in which she had allowed work to get on top of her