Respondent AD

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

Respondent AD, a solicitor admitted in 1976 and partner/owner-manager (COLP and COFA) at the Firm, admitted misappropriating £200,000 from two estates (OH and RH) for which he was executor, causing client account shortages that were replaced only after 549 and 463 days. He falsified payment documentation and gave false information to a colleague to route the funds to his personal accounts, ultimately using them to support the overdrawn office account and his drawings. He also dishonestly overcharged six estates totalling £198,357.54. He admitted dishonesty and lack of integrity. The Tribunal, on an agreed outcome, found no exceptional circumstances and struck him off the Roll, ordering costs of £1,000.

Duties found breached:

• Honesty
• Integrity
• No improper use of client money
• No taking unfair advantage

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty over an extended period
• Falsified account records and payment documentation to conceal payments to himself
• Provided false information to colleague who signed cheques
• Victims were the deceased and beneficiaries who could not speak for themselves
• Abuse of trust by experienced solicitor
• Personal benefit - funds used to support Firm's running and his own drawings
• COLP and COFA roles held

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted all allegations including dishonesty
• Much of the misappropriated money eventually repaid (though late - 549 and 463 days)
• Ill-health raised but not formally relied upon as mitigation