Stephen Kojo Baidoe-Ansah

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

Stephen Kojo Baidoe-Ansah, a solicitor admitted in 1999, faced 19 allegations relating to conflicts of interest, failure to notify an institutional lender of a sale at an undervalue, failure to account to a client for sale proceeds, misleading statements to clients and the SRA, attempting to persuade a client to withdraw an LCS complaint, numerous Solicitors Accounts Rules breaches (improper withdrawals, banking facility use, suspense ledgers, double-charging), a fictitious property transaction involving mortgage monies, misleading the firm's PI insurer, and convictions for offences involving fraud (6 months imprisonment plus a 3-year Serious Crime Prevention Order). He did not appear. The Tribunal found all allegations substantiated. Although the conduct involved fraud convictions and serious dishonesty-type conduct, the decision did not record an express finding of dishonesty by the Tribunal. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay £32,212.38 in costs (severally liable). A co-respondent's portions were redacted following a successful appeal.

Duties found breached:

• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Act in the client's best interests
• Complaints procedure and handling
• Handle inadvertently received material
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Not mislead the court
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Prompt accounting and return of money
• Proper basis for allegations