J W Smith, A A Voliere, F Dawodu
Allegation / charges
Breaches, Client Money, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules
Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision
Three respondents connected with Sovereign Chambers LLP faced SRA disciplinary proceedings. Voliere and Dawodu were found to have dishonestly misappropriated client funds (over £2 million in seven mortgage transactions plus a fraudulent £49,070 bridging loan against Mr DW's property), maintained hidden Access Bank accounts, lied to the SRA, and failed to maintain proper books. Smith, the senior partner, was not found dishonest but failed to supervise or manage the firm, allowing the breaches to occur, and failed to ensure the indemnity premium was paid. All three were struck off (Smith and Voliere from the Roll, Dawodu from the Register of Foreign Lawyers). Costs of £28,000 were awarded for this case (Smith £4,000 severally; Voliere and Dawodu £24,000 jointly and severally).
Duties found breached:
- Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
- Act in the client's best interests
- Honesty
- Integrity
- No baseless or threatened misconduct report
- No conflict between current clients
- No improper communication with the court
- No improper use of client money
- Not mislead third parties or opponents
- Not misrepresent regulated status
- Prompt accounting and return of money
- Uphold public trust in the profession
Aggravating factors:
- Misappropriation of over £2 million from lender clients in seven mortgage transactions
- Hallmarks of mortgage fraud
- Lying to SRA Investigation Officer
- Transfer of £28,000 client money to Voliere's wife with no justification
- Distress caused to elderly Mr DW who faced possession proceedings over a loan he knew nothing of
- Concealment of bank accounts from senior partner
Mitigating factors:
- Smith: almost 44 years in practice with previously unblemished record
- Smith: ill health (brain haemorrhage, stroke, eyesight problems, prostate cancer) and advanced years
- Smith: guilty by omission not commission, misled by co-respondents
- Smith: less personal culpability than Voliere and Dawodu