Anne-Marie Jeffrey

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

The Respondent solicitor, who held a power of attorney and keys for clients (Mr and Mrs M) buying a flat, allowed homeless acquaintances to occupy the clients' flat without permission while they were abroad, in serious breach of the fiduciary relationship and her duty to act in the clients' best interests. She also caused inordinate (roughly ten-year) delay in administering an estate, failed to respond to correspondence, failed to comply timeously with an IPS decision (one day late), and misled a beneficiary (Mrs D) about the preparation of estate accounts in a letter dated 12 February 1999. The Tribunal found all allegations substantiated and ordered she be struck off the Roll and pay agreed costs of £3,300. The Tribunal expressly characterised the misleading conduct as more akin to 'fobbing off' than dishonesty in the true sense; no express finding of dishonesty was made.

Duties found breached:

• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Keep client informed and respond promptly
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper benefit, loan or bequest
• Prompt accounting and return of money
• Diligence and timeliness

Aggravating factors:

• Exceptional degree of trust placed in her as solicitor and donee of power of attorney for both clients
• Breach of fiduciary duty was at the most serious end of the scale
• Treated clients' property as her own; potential disastrous consequences if occupants had refused to leave
• Spoke with the clients on four occasions without disclosing she had allowed third parties into the flat
• Inordinate delay of approximately ten years in administering the estate
• Misled the beneficiary Mrs D as to the state of the estate accounts