Peter Edward Krivinskas

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

Peter Edward Krivinskas, a sole practitioner admitted in 1979, faced multiple allegations arising from Law Society inspections. The Tribunal found substantiated breaches of the Solicitors Accounts Rules (improper withdrawals and taking costs without billing), failure to safeguard trust funds, breach of an undertaking and obligation to Mr T, and acting in a conflict of interest as a 'middleman' in dubious financial transactions bearing the hallmarks of prime bank instrument fraud. The Tribunal did NOT find dishonesty in relation to the Mr T trust funds (allegations d/e) and found the allegation of misleading the Law Society investigator (i) not substantiated. However, applying the Twinsectra test, the Tribunal found the Respondent had acted DISHONESTLY in introducing Mr L to Mr S (allegation h) while representing Mr S who was on bail for fraud involving similar loan schemes. The Respondent was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs subject to detailed assessment.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• No own-interest conflict
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Honour professional undertakings

Aggravating factors:

• Respondent had received Law Society warning cards on prime bank instrument fraud and money laundering yet became involved in such transactions
• Introduced Mr L to Mr S while representing Mr S who was on bail facing fraud charges for similar loan deals
• Disbelieved evidence; 16 relevant incriminating documents were missing from the file

Mitigating factors:

• No client complaint and no funds ultimately lost
• Books of account at later firm were in good order
• Supported by partners and described as hard-working and honest by colleague
• Accounts shortages had been replaced