S Aziz

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

Sole director of Cranbrook Solicitors Limited found to have committed 15 allegations including four involving dishonesty: failing to keep proper accounting records, improper inter-ledger transfers disguising debit balances, withdrawing client money for her own use, and providing false gross-fee figures to the Assigned Risks Pool. There was a client account shortage of at least £187,254.96. She also failed to honour undertakings, made false statements, conducted transactions bearing characteristics of mortgage fraud (grossly reckless), and misappropriated £134,000 from her sister-in-law. The Tribunal found no exceptional circumstances and struck her off the Roll, ordering costs of £19,425.33 not to be enforced without leave given her impecuniosity.

Duties found breached:

• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Handle inadvertently received material
• Honour professional undertakings
• Integrity
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Prompt accounting and return of money
• Proper basis for allegations

Aggravating factors:

• Minimum client account cash shortage of £187,254.96
• Four findings of dishonesty
• Clients and third parties suffered losses
• Serious damage to reputation of the profession
• Second appearance before the Tribunal (previously fined £10,000)
• Failure to honour multiple undertakings
• Failure to engage with the SRA investigation
• Misappropriation of sister-in-law's £134,000 savings

Mitigating factors:

• Personal and medical difficulties (GP letters provided)
• Impecunious financial circumstances on state benefits