Derildene Erika Elizabeth Brown

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

Solicitor Derildene Brown carried on practice as sole principal of D Brown Associates while falsely representing to the Law Society that she was merely an employee/caseworker and that a Mr David/Kwame-Brown (who did not exist on solicitor or barrister records) was principal. She also practised without qualifying indemnity insurance, when not qualified to supervise, in breach of practising certificate conditions, failed to pay ARP premiums and failed to reply to correspondence. The Tribunal found all allegations substantiated and made an express finding of dishonesty applying Twinsectra. She was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £8,000.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• No conflict between current clients
• Prompt accounting and return of money
• Professional indemnity insurance
• Hold a current practising certificate
• Not misrepresent regulated status

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonest misrepresentations to the Law Society
• Attributed control of firm to a fictitious/non-existent principal (Mr Kwame-Brown not recorded as solicitor or barrister)
• Continued to practise in breach of Practising Certificate conditions after Mr Tammer's departure
• Failure to respond to Law Society correspondence