Vasantha Karalliedde and Anil Sanghani

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

Two non-solicitor clerks were the subject of Law Society applications under s.43 Solicitors Act 1974. Karalliedde (employed by Mangalagama & Co) was found to have falsely described himself as a solicitor to Mr & Mrs T, failed to carry out his retainer with due care/diligence and failed to keep clients informed; a third allegation (failure to report Sanghani's conduct to the SCB/Law Society) was not substantiated. Sanghani (employed by Russell-Clayton & Co) was found to have all allegations against him substantiated: acting in conflict, borrowing from a client without proper authority, drawing from client account contrary to the rules, and serious misuse of clients' funds with substantial shortages. The Tribunal made s.43 employment-restriction orders against both. Although the Tribunal found Sanghani manipulated clients and lacked integrity, probity and trustworthiness, it made no express finding of dishonesty. Costs of £1,920 (Karalliedde) and £3,155 (Sanghani) were ordered.

Duties found breached:

• No taking unfair advantage
• Proper termination and return of instructions
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Report serious misconduct of others

Aggravating factors:

• Sanghani was an experienced solicitor's clerk of many years with knowledge of legal practice
• Manipulated lay clients and their money for his own ends
• Total disregard for the Solicitors Accounts Rules and the paramount interest of clients
• Substantial cash shortages on client account (e.g. £37,607.65 and £41,211.15) and multiple instances of misuse of client funds
• Failed to grasp fundamental requirements of integrity, probity and trustworthiness

⚠ figures not found verbatim in the source were dropped: ["unverified_costs_amount=5075"]