Issac Agyemang Baffour

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

Isaac Agyemang Baffour, admitted 2005 and practising through Baftas Solicitors LLP/sole practice, faced allegations arising from (1) a flood-damage claim in which he falsely claimed loss of earnings for two solicitors not working at the firm, falsely represented his capacity in Court pleadings, and made false statements to avoid a wasted costs order; and (2) his handling of a conveyancing sale (1 DW Avenue) for client Mr W, including misuse of stakeholder deposit monies, fabrication of a client authority letter dated 5 May 2010, failure to account for completion monies, poor service, failure to comply with a Legal Ombudsman direction, and breach of undertakings to WS Solicitors. The Tribunal found all allegations proved beyond reasonable doubt, including express findings of dishonesty on allegations 1.1(i)-(iv) and 2.2. It found calculated dishonesty in two separate situations, no insight, and no exceptional circumstances. The Respondent was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £44,164.44.

Duties found breached:

• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Act in the client's best interests
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• No conflict between current clients

Aggravating factors:

• Calculated dishonesty in two separate and unrelated situations
• Fabrication of a document (letter dated 5 May 2010 with forged/transferred client signature)
• Repeated false statements under statements of truth to the Court
• Client (Mr W) kept out of a considerable sum of money for over three years
• Failure to comply with a direction of the Legal Ombudsman
• Complete lack of insight into misconduct, making him hazardous to the public
• Gave multiple inconsistent explanations and defaulted to claiming mistakes/oversights
• Reliance on a spurious defence that he and Baftas Solicitors were separate legal entities

Mitigating factors:

• No previous disciplinary matters
• Character evidence describing him as an honest and dedicated solicitor
• Difficult personal circumstances including a series of family bereavements
• Respondent had five children, two very young, and was main support of the family
• All charges on the property were eventually discharged