J W Smith, A A Voliere, F Dawodu

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

Three respondents connected with Sovereign Chambers LLP faced multiple allegations. The Tribunal found Voliere and Dawodu had dishonestly misappropriated over £2 million from lender clients through seven fraudulent mortgage transactions, and Dawodu additionally orchestrated a fraudulent £55,000 bridging loan against an elderly man's property (£49,070 received). Express dishonesty findings were made against Voliere and Dawodu under the Twinsectra test. Smith was found to have failed in integrity, supervision and management by omission, but no dishonesty was found against him. All three were struck off (Dawodu from the Register of Foreign Lawyers). Total costs of £28,000 apportioned: Smith £4,000 severally; Voliere and Dawodu £24,000 jointly and severally (with additional costs in related cases).

Duties found breached:

• Honesty
• Integrity
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Act in the client's best interests
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Supervise staff and delegated work
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report
• Not misrepresent regulated status

Aggravating factors:

• Misappropriation of over £2 million from lender clients across seven mortgage transactions with hallmarks of mortgage fraud
• Dishonest transfer of £28,000 client money to Voliere's wife
• Elderly homeowner Mr DW distressed by possession proceedings arising from fraudulent bridging loan on his property
• Lying to and misleading SRA investigators
• Firm operated uninsured while handling client matters, exposing public to risk
• Concealment of hidden Access Bank accounts from Smith and from books of account

Mitigating factors:

• Smith: almost 44 years in practice with previously unblemished record
• Smith: not directly responsible for wrongdoing, guilty by omission and misled by co-respondents
• Smith: advanced age and ill health (brain haemorrhage, stroke, eyesight problems, prostate cancer, prone to confusion)