Alexander John BAXTER

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

Mr Baxter, a solicitor admitted in 1981, misappropriated almost $6.7 million of client trust funds from 18 clients over nearly two years to fund a gambling problem. He self-reported, cooperated fully, and did not dispute the orders sought. QCAT found his conduct constituted professional misconduct involving systematic deceit and serious breaches of honesty and trust, incompatible with fitness to practise. His name was ordered removed from the local roll and he was ordered to pay costs fixed at $2,000 within six months.

Duties found breached:

• Uphold public trust in the profession
• No improper use of client money
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Enormous scale of defalcations (almost $6.7 million; over $3.5 million still outstanding)
• Systematic, compounding breaches over almost two years
• Shuffling client funds to conceal misappropriations from clients and partners
• Conduct driven by gambling problem

Mitigating factors:

• No previous adverse disciplinary findings
• Full cooperation with the Commissioner and immediate admission of all allegations
• Self-reported misconduct to partners and resigned; surrendered practising certificate
• Frank and forthright submissions; did not oppose orders