Vipul Kapoor

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

Solicitor admitted three drink-driving convictions (2017-2020), the last committed whilst disqualified and involving driving without insurance and cocaine possession (suspended custodial sentence), plus a 2023 drunk and disorderly caution, and failure to report any of these to the SRA for nearly seven years. All allegations admitted. No express finding of dishonesty (integrity/Principle 5 partly withdrawn). Tribunal acknowledged suspension would have been defensible but, given genuine remorse and sustained recovery from alcohol dependency, imposed a Level 3 fine of £15,000 plus agreed costs of £10,688.

Duties found breached:

• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• Self-report to the regulator
• Report serious misconduct of others

Aggravating factors:

• Repeated nature of offending across 2017-2020
• Commission of a further offence whilst subject to an existing court-imposed disqualification
• Protracted failure to report convictions spanning approximately six years
• Further six-month delay in reporting after becoming aware of obligation in April 2023
• Experienced solicitor who should have known his professional obligations

Mitigating factors:

• No prior regulatory findings; admitted to Roll in 2009 with previously unblemished record
• Full admissions of all allegations
• Genuine remorse
• Offending rooted in alcohol dependency now in the past
• Abstinent since December 2023 and actively engaged with Alcoholics Anonymous
• Positive character reference from employers
• Failings were private in nature, unconnected to professional work
• Psychiatric evidence of alcohol dependence during relevant period