H W Endeley, D J Stevenson & Another

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

Three Respondents practised in a multi-national partnership (Pinnacle Solicitors). FIU reports revealed cash shortages, client money paid into office account and used for their own benefit, and accounts not properly kept. The Tribunal found the First Respondent had written a deliberately misleading letter to a client and expressly found dishonesty satisfying the Twinsectra test. The First Respondent was struck off the Register of Foreign Lawyers and the Second Respondent struck off the Roll of Solicitors, jointly and severally liable for costs of £20,685.64. An Adjudicator's compensation direction (Mrs O, £162,467.29 paid from compensation fund) was made enforceable as a High Court order. The Third Respondent, found to be an innocent victim who admitted only accounts breaches by virtue of her partner status, received no order and the Tribunal recommended review of conditions on her practising certificate. Allegation (viii) against the First and (xii) against the Third were withdrawn.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• No taking unfair advantage
• No own-interest conflict
• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Not misrepresent regulated status

Aggravating factors:

• Rolling unreplaced client account shortages
• Utilising clients' funds for own benefit
• Lack of cooperation throughout disciplinary proceedings by First and Second Respondents (non-attendance, no substantive response)
• A ledger created to answer FIU queries