Samrhan Iqbal - Rodney Nkrumah-Boateng

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

Kevin James Steele, a former partner at Mishcon de Reya, was convicted at Southwark Crown Court of conspiracy to use false instruments, conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, and dishonestly making false representations, and sentenced to five and a half years imprisonment. He had provided false statements and forged BJB bank letters to procure a €22 million EFG loan for his client MS by fraudulent means, and improperly applied £1.8 million of those funds to settle an unrelated arbitration. The Tribunal found all allegations proved beyond reasonable doubt, made an express finding of dishonesty applying the Twinsectra test, and struck him off the Roll. He was ordered to pay costs of £18,000 (reduced from the £24,304.63 claimed). The Respondent did not appear.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• No conflict between current clients
• Handle inadvertently received material
• Truthful, non-misleading advertising

Aggravating factors:

• Convicted on indictment at Southwark Crown Court of conspiracy to use false instruments, conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, and dishonestly making false representations; sentenced to five and a half years imprisonment
• Provided knowingly false statements, assurances and forged bank letters to opposing solicitors to procure release of a €22 million loan
• Improperly transferred £1.8 million of fraudulently obtained client funds to settle an unrelated arbitration
• Abused the trust of his partners who were unaware of the underlying fraud ('hoodwinked')
• Maintained he was not guilty despite conviction