David John Shoesmith

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

Duties found breached:

• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• No improper communication with the court

Aggravating factors:

• Third appearance before the Tribunal, with previous appearances also relating to failure to deliver Accountants Reports and failure to comply with an Adjudicator's decision
• Showed little respect for his regulatory Authority and little regard for his regulatory obligations
• Conduct prevented the SRA from carrying out its proper regulatory function and ensuring clients were not at risk

Mitigating factors:

• Only one prior client complaint, a minor matter
• Administrative problems resulting from pressure of working as a sole practitioner
• Poor financial circumstances; wife expecting a baby and losing income on maternity benefit
• No longer working in the legal profession