Nato Zondagh

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

Nato Zondagh, sole principal, COLP and COFA of Excelsior Solicitors Ltd, was found to have misappropriated or misused client money across four matters (MFC, SS, MI and the estate of HM), failed to register property purchases, failed to pay SDLT, misled client SS, failed to account to clients, and failed to respond to the SRA. The Tribunal found breaches of Principles 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10 (and equivalent 2019 Principles/Code) and made an express finding of dishonesty applying the Ivey test in relation to allegations 1.1-1.4. The Respondent did not engage and was not represented; the hearing proceeded in his absence. With no exceptional circumstances under Sharma/James, the Tribunal ordered he be struck off the Roll and pay costs of £22,200.

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Act in the client's best interests
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• No improper use of client money
• Cooperate openly with regulators

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty
• Deliberate, calculated and repeated conduct across four similar matters
• Harm spread across multiple clients with substantial sums (approx £175,000) misappropriated
• Concealment of wrongdoing by failing to engage with the SRA
• Misled client SS that SDLT had been paid and registration completed
• Previous disciplinary finding in 2016 involving failure to protect client money - failed to learn from prior experience