Nicholas Paul Tsioupras

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

Respondent, a sole practitioner, made improper round-sum withdrawals totalling £415,221 from client account between June and August 2018, transferring £252,199 to an account in his own name and other sums to an unknown account, causing a minimum cash shortage of £403,611 affecting four clients and reimbursed by the Compensation Fund. He failed to keep proper accounting records and abandoned his practice, travelling abroad and leaving a trainee solicitor to deal with matters, without informing the SRA or effecting an orderly wind down, and did not engage with the regulator or proceedings. The Tribunal found all three allegations proved, including express dishonesty under the Ivey test, and struck him off the Roll, ordering costs of £8,361.05.

Duties found breached:

• Act in the client's best interests
• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Cooperate openly with regulators

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonestly withdrew client funds transferring to own or unknown account
• Deliberate, calculated and repeated conduct over two-month period affecting four clients
• Concealment - told trainee not to attend office falsely claiming SRA intervention requested
• Ought reasonably to have known conduct breached obligations
• Immense harm to clients, trainee solicitor and profession's reputation

Mitigating factors:

• Previously unblemished record