Kevin Harper

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

Kevin Harper, admitted 2002 and practising in Blackburn before relocating to Thailand, faced three allegations of conduct unbefitting a solicitor: failing to comply with an Adjudicator's direction of 26 April 2007 (to pay £1,964.65 compensation to a client), failing to maintain compliant professional indemnity insurance (his firm Josephs Solicitors lacked cover after the LLP ceased trading), and failing to comply with a Northampton County Court order. The Respondent did not appear and was not represented. The Tribunal found the allegations proved, noting he appeared to have abandoned his responsibilities. No express finding of dishonesty was made. He was suspended indefinitely from 19 June 2008 and ordered to pay costs of £6,974.11, with the Adjudicator's direction made enforceable as a High Court order.

Duties found breached:

• Advise on alternatives, settlement and outcome
• Professional indemnity insurance

Aggravating factors:

• Failure to comply with the Adjudicator's direction seriously undermined the authority of the professional regulator
• Failure to comply with a County Court judgment as an Officer of the Court
• Abandoned his responsibilities and left the country
• Repeatedly failed to respond to correspondence from the LCS and SRA