Munpreet Singh Virdee

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

Munpreet Singh Virdee, a director and COFA of Reemans Solicitors Limited, was found to have allowed debit balances totalling £8,522.37, deliberately falsified consideration figures on 36 SDLT forms to underpay SDLT, made improper transfers of client money and improper payments due to HMRC amounting to £311,862.50, used client money to enable the firm to trade, and failed as COFA to report breaches to the SRA. The Tribunal found all five allegations proved with express findings of dishonesty (rejecting only certain Principle 7 and Outcome 7 elements). He did not attend; the hearing proceeded in his absence. The Tribunal found no exceptional circumstances and ordered him struck off the Roll and to pay costs of £21,752.00.

Duties found breached:

• No conflict between current clients
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• Report serious misconduct of others

Aggravating factors:

• Proven dishonesty
• Deliberate, calculated and repeated misconduct over a significant period
• Concealed conduct from colleagues
• Falsely told colleagues and HMRC that the shortages were errors when he knew they were not
• Breached trust placed in him by clients
• Caused harm to clients and the reputation of the profession

Mitigating factors:

• Made some admissions
• Open and frank during the Applicant's investigation