Chandra Soares

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

Jamaican attorney Chandra Soares had carriage of the sale of the complainant's property at 50 Barbican Road for $35,500,000. She prepared an agreement showing a reduced price of $25,500,000, miscalculated costs on that lower figure, and failed to pay the complainant the full net proceeds, withholding $7,985,424.76 which she converted to her own use (partly given to a church at the Bishop's request). She falsely claimed the complainant agreed to lend her the shortfall via a promissory note he never saw. The tribunal found dishonesty and conversion of client funds proven beyond reasonable doubt. Although she refunded the sum with interest and costs, the panel found her conduct egregious and ordered her struck from the Roll, with no order as to costs.

Duties found breached:

• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Prompt accounting and return of money
• Report serious misconduct of others

Aggravating factors:

• Breach of trust reposed by the client
• Knowingly converted client funds ($7,985,424.76) to her own use and/or benefit of others without consent
• Knowingly miscalculated costs on a purchase price of $25,500,000 instead of $35,500,000
• Prepared a promissory note the complainant never saw or agreed to
• Egregious conduct bringing the profession into disrepute

Mitigating factors:

• Refunded the total misappropriated sum with interest and legal costs on 19 December 2008
• Did not seek to deny wrongly using the client's funds
• Cooperative and admitted the material allegations
• 25 years in practice with no prior problems with this client