Clare Elizabeth Forster

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

Clare Elizabeth Forster, a clinical negligence solicitor at Hudgell Solicitors, falsely recorded time on four client matters between June and November 2023, totalling approximately 99.9 hours of unsubstantiated time, including fabricating an IT failure to explain a missing file note. She admitted the allegation in full. The Tribunal found express dishonesty (Ivey test), with culpability and harm assessed as moderate to high. Despite substantial mitigation including mental health difficulties, an abusive relationship and workplace pressure, the Tribunal held these did not amount to exceptional circumstances to displace the usual strike-off, as her capacity for rational decision-making and to distinguish honesty from dishonesty was not degraded throughout. She was struck off and ordered to pay £25,000 costs (reduced from £36,817.50 claimed).

Duties found breached:

• Honesty
• Integrity
• No conflict between current clients
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues

Aggravating factors:

• Deliberate, calculated and repeated dishonesty over five months
• Concealment via fabricated IT failure explanation for missing file note
• Multiple client matters affected (approx. 99.9 hours unsubstantiated)
• Sufficient experience (four years PQE) to know conduct was serious breach

Mitigating factors:

• Deterioration in mental health substantiated by psychiatric report
• Difficult personal circumstances arising from prolonged abusive relationship
• Significant workplace pressure and elevated PIP targets
• Full early admissions, insight, remorse and cooperation with regulator
• No client suffered actual loss; no personal financial benefit beyond salary
• Conduct against her normal character
• Record of false entries enabled firm to trace affected matters