Michael Shrosbree

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

Michael Shrosbree, a non-solicitor conveyancing executive employed by Khilkoff-Boulding & Co, acted for Mr and Mrs L on a leasehold purchase. He requested excessive stamp duty, then treated the £470 overpayment refund as the firm's costs via an internal bill, refused to release the clients' file except on payment of a photocopying fee, and delayed releasing the file (3.5 years) and refunding overpaid stamp duty (about 4 years). The Respondent admitted the facts and did not contest the order; the Applicant expressly did not pursue any allegation of dishonesty. The Tribunal found the allegation substantiated and made a Section 43 order, ordering him to pay agreed fixed costs of £4,750.

Duties found breached:

• Avoid wasting the court's time
• Handle inadvertently received material
• No improper use of client money
• Prompt accounting and return of money