Bhadresh Babulal Gohil

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

The Respondent, a solicitor, was convicted in 2010 of numerous offences including money laundering, conspiracy to defraud and concealing criminal property, arising from laundering $37 million connected to former Nigerian governor James Ibori, and was sentenced to a total of ten years imprisonment. The SRA brought allegations that by virtue of these convictions he acted without integrity (Rule 1.02) and behaved in a way likely to diminish public trust (Rule 1.06). The Tribunal proceeded in his absence (he was a serving prisoner and had had adjournment applications refused), found both allegations proved to the criminal standard, and noted the offences were offences of dishonesty. It ordered him struck off the Roll and to pay costs of £3,963.37.

Duties found breached:

• Uphold public trust in the profession
• No conflict between current clients

Aggravating factors:

• Multiple serious criminal convictions for money laundering of $37 million and related dishonesty offences
• Serious offences reflected in three years plus seven years imprisonment

Mitigating factors:

• No previous disciplinary findings