Nicholas Paul Tsioupras

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

Sole practitioner Nicholas Paul Tsioupras made improper round-sum withdrawals totalling £415,221 from client account between June and August 2018, with £252,199 transferred to an account in his own name and other sums to an unknown account, causing a minimum cash shortage of £403,611 affecting four clients (PA, GM, MC, SK) and leaving the client account overdrawn. He failed to keep proper accounting records and then abandoned the firm, leaving a trainee solicitor to deal with matters, travelling abroad and failing to engage with the SRA or these proceedings. The Compensation Fund reimbursed affected clients. The Tribunal found dishonesty proved under the Ivey test, drawing an adverse inference from his non-engagement, and found no exceptional circumstances. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £8,361.05. The hearing proceeded in his absence.

Duties found breached:

• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Cooperate openly with regulators

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonest withdrawal of client funds transferred to own account or unknown account
• Deliberate, calculated and repeated conduct over two-month period affecting four clients
• Concealment - told trainee not to attend office, falsely claiming SRA had been asked to intervene
• Ought reasonably to have known conduct breached obligations
• Caused immense harm to clients, trainee solicitor and reputation of profession

Mitigating factors:

• Previously unblemished record