Abraham Verghese

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

The Respondent, a partner at Ince & Co specialising in shipping and energy law, devised a systematic fraudulent scheme over many years (beginning in 1995 as an assistant solicitor). He set up fictitious entities (Studio Legale Belleli SPA Vincenzi, Translating Services, and Vintage Services Company) and raised over 400 false invoices for expenses/disbursements that had not been incurred, incorporating these into bills paid by the firm and its clients, then diverting the funds to his personal bank account. Total losses were £2,812,700.31 (£2,528,951.84 from clients, £283,748.47 from the firm). He admitted all allegations. The Tribunal found dishonesty proved under the Twinsectra test, describing it as as bad a case of fraud as it had seen, and struck him off the Roll, ordering costs of £11,671.32.

Duties found breached:

• Act in the client's best interests
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues
• Honesty
• Prompt accounting and return of money

Aggravating factors:

• Carefully devised, systematic and deliberate fraud
• Conduct took place over many years (from 1995)
• Substantial sums involved (over £2.8 million)
• Serious breach of trust placed in him by clients and partners
• Fraudulent gain derived while already receiving a substantial partner's income
• Caused significant cost and disruption to the firm in unravelling the fraud