Julia Cooper

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

The Respondent, a sole practitioner, was found to have facilitated an attempted purchase of an elderly client's (Ms S) property by the Respondent's civil partner (Person G) at a known undervalue, drafting a legal agreement (the S-G Agreement) with onerous terms disadvantageous to the client, causing the client to sign false declarations that she had received independent legal advice, making false and misleading statements to the SRA that Ms S was not her client, and drafting a will in April 2020 appointing herself sole executrix and sole beneficiary of the client's estate. The Tribunal found all five allegations proved and made express findings of dishonesty on allegations 1.1, 1.3 and part of 1.4 (regarding client status). The Tribunal found the conduct involved breaches of multiple Principles and Outcomes/Rules, found no mitigating factors, rejected the argument that the Respondent's public-service work amounted to exceptional circumstances, and ordered the Respondent be struck off the Roll with costs of £44,978.90. An appeal to the High Court was dismissed by consent on 10 January 2023.

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• Professional independence
• No taking unfair advantage
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Act in the client's best interests
• No conflict between current clients

Aggravating factors:

• Proven dishonesty
• Conduct deliberate and calculated
• Conduct continued over a period of time
• Took advantage of elderly, vulnerable client who trusted her
• Sought to conceal conduct by making allegations against former civil partner and denying client relationship
• Motivated by financial gain
• Experienced solicitor fully aware of regulatory obligations
• No insight displayed