A K Sharma & Others

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

SDT case 10669-2010. First Respondent Ameet Kumar Sharma, a consultant solicitor, admitted seven allegations including dishonesty relating to conveyancing transactions exhibiting characteristics of mortgage fraud, inaccurate representations to lenders, conflict of interest, a £168,136.01 client account shortage and unauthorised private loans. The Tribunal found no exceptional circumstances and struck him off, ordering costs of £49,337. The Second and Third Respondents (partners, strictly liable for Accounts Rules breaches) were victims of his deception and were reprimanded, each ordered to pay £5,000 costs (R3's not enforceable without leave). The Fourth Respondent, who had a previous disciplinary appearance, was fined £1,000 with £5,000 costs. Total costs assessed at £64,337. A subsequent costs appeal by Sharma was dismissed.

Duties found breached:

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

Aggravating factors:

• Conduct over a number of months involving a large number of transactions at two firms
• Repeated conduct even after moving firms, with clients following him
• Placed personal life before professional duties
• Caused serious harm to employers including financial pressure, reputational damage and closure of the firm
• No evidence produced to support claimed blackmail, and in any event no excuse

Mitigating factors:

• Young in age and professional experience
• Full and frank admissions and acceptance of responsibility to the SRA
• Positive character references describing him as competent and honest
• Claimed pressure/blackmail from clients and resulting health and personal difficulties
• Conduct related to one set of connected clients