Ebru Atas

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

Ebru Atas, a solicitor admitted in 2017 and employed at Kilic & Kilic Solicitors, improperly caused two clients (A and B) to make payments totalling approximately £1,635 and £1,630 respectively into her personal bank account for purported Firm fees, when both clients believed they were paying the Firm. Client A was legally aided and should not have been billed at all. She also created a false Decree Absolute for Client B and certified a copy as a true copy knowing it was false, leading Client B to believe he was divorced when he was not. The Respondent admitted all allegations and admitted dishonesty. The Tribunal, accepting an agreed outcome, found the allegations and dishonesty proved and ordered her to be struck off the Roll, with costs of £5,000. Her application that costs not be enforced without leave of the Tribunal was refused.

Duties found breached:

• Honesty
• Integrity
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Proper basis for allegations

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonest conduct including falsification of a court document
• Deliberate and repeated misconduct over a prolonged period (July 2018 to September 2019)
• Clients were vulnerable (Turkish nationals, legally aided/lacking means)
• Clients misled into believing they were paying the Firm
• Client B's divorce proceedings were not actually completed, causing further harm and delay

Mitigating factors:

• Full admissions to all allegations
• Co-operation with the Applicant and Tribunal throughout proceedings
• Returned monies to clients (though only after being asked)
• Expressed shame and regret/apologised
• Claimed personal stress, medical condition, financial pressure and excessive workload (not agreed by SRA)