Sally Frances Keable

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

Sole practitioner Sally Frances Keable faced 15 allegations of conduct unbefitting a solicitor arising from monitoring visits and a forensic investigation which revealed widespread accounts rules breaches, failure to provide client care information, failure to reply to the Law Society, breaches of practising certificate conditions, and a book shortage of £221,307.30 on client account. She did not attend. The Tribunal found all allegations substantiated. No dishonesty was alleged or found. Given the number and seriousness of the breaches and the need to protect the public, the Tribunal imposed an indefinite suspension and ordered costs subject to detailed assessment (claimed at £12,955.85).

Duties found breached:

• Keep client informed and respond promptly
• Advise on alternatives, settlement and outcome
• Costs and fee transparency to client
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Account for interest on client money
• Diligence and timeliness
• Hold a current practising certificate
• Report serious misconduct of others

Aggravating factors:

• Cash shortage on client account of £221,307.30 identified
• Repeated failure to respond to Law Society correspondence and comply with adjudication directions
• Second monitoring visit found practice largely unchanged despite help offered
• Respondent made no attempt to ascertain the true shortage before repaying, guessing at £50,000

Mitigating factors:

• No allegation or finding of dishonesty
• Respondent paid £50,000 from her own resources intending to replace any shortage
• Respondent admitted general contents of report and acknowledged her failings
• Sad case where work overwhelmed the Respondent