Gauri Advani

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

The Respondent, a solicitor at Denton Wilde Sapte, was found to have dishonestly brokered a transaction in 2002 whereby Mr Nayyar and Mr Kang paid £400,000 as an intended bribe to procure a Global Sales Agent appointment for Air India, and to have wrongly assured them that as a UK lawyer she was their guarantee. The Tribunal relied on two prior High Court judgments (Hamblen J in 2009 and Sir Raymond Jack in 2012) which made findings, including express dishonesty in the Jack judgment, and gave them determinative weight. The Respondent's new evidence (Mr Yadav's statement and security documents) was given no weight. All three allegations, including dishonesty, were found proved beyond reasonable doubt. The Respondent was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs (claimed at £65,464.16) subject to detailed assessment.

Duties found breached:

• Honesty
• No taking unfair advantage
• No bribery or improper gifts
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Findings of dishonesty in two prior High Court judgments (Hamblen J and Sir Raymond Jack)
• Told many lies in the witness box during the Travellers trial
• Posed a significant risk to the public if allowed to continue practising
• Produced unconvincing/last-minute new evidence (Mr Yadav's statement) to reopen settled findings

Mitigating factors:

• Respondent's assertion that she was open and disclosed documents
• Unemployed for two years and impecunious
• No previous disciplinary matters