Sarah Elizabeth Reynolds

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

Sarah Elizabeth Reynolds, a solicitor at Parfitt Cresswell, failed to register a client's (Person A) Lasting Power of Attorney with the OPG for around a year. During her notice period, she amended the LPA (preferences section) and altered the year on the client's cheque from 2021 to 2022 without the client's consent, to prevent rejection by the OPG and the bank. The Tribunal found she intended to seek the client's authorisation before dispatch and that an administrative colleague, not the Respondent, actually sent the documents. The Tribunal found the allegations proved regarding breaches of Principles 2 and 5 and paragraph 3.1, but expressly found no dishonesty (Principle 4) and no breach of paragraph 7.11. She was fined £5,500 and ordered to pay £11,750 costs.

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Act in the client's best interests
• No conflict between current clients
• Diligence and timeliness

Aggravating factors:

• Should have known that the delay and pre-emptive changes to LPA and cheque were material breaches of obligation
• Experienced solicitor of over 15 years post-qualification experience who could reasonably have foreseen potential harm to elderly client

Mitigating factors:

• Single episode against a background of an unblemished career
• Immediate full and frank admissions maintained throughout proceedings
• Medical evidence consistent with impulsive action and perfectionism
• Difficult personal circumstances caring for two children with medical conditions and heavy workload
• Thirteen positive references attesting to trustworthiness
• Limited financial means

⚠ figures not found verbatim in the source were dropped: ["review_dishonesty_finding_cue_present"]