(unnamed respondent)

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

Andrew Reeves, suspended indefinitely from January 2012 for failing to comply with a Tribunal unless order (relating to non-delivery of accountant's reports, breaches of the Solicitors Accounts Rules, non-compliance with an Adjudicator's decision, and failure to cooperate with the SRA), applied to terminate the indefinite suspension. The Tribunal found no dishonesty or lack of integrity had ever been alleged. Although the case was finely balanced given the lack of evidence about future supervision and up-to-date legal training, the Tribunal was satisfied any residual risk could be managed by stringent conditions and GRANTED the application. It imposed practising conditions (no sole practice, no partnership/LLP/ABS role, no COLP/COFA, no holding client money, SRA-approved employment only) and required notification of any practising post and 16 hours of in-person CPD within 6 months. The Applicant was ordered to pay the SRA's costs of £2,262.07.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Advise on alternatives, settlement and outcome
• No conflict between current clients
• Manage conflict arising mid-matter
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Previous history of repeated non-compliance with regulator decisions and Tribunal orders
• Limited insight into the risks created by non-compliance with the Accounts Rules (relying on personal memory to assert no client lost money)
• No offer of legal employment and no evidence of safeguards or supervision arrangements for return to practice
• No evidence of specific legal training/CPD to keep legal knowledge up to date
• Intention to work as a consultant, a role attracting the lowest supervision and highest risk

Mitigating factors:

• No allegation or finding of dishonesty or lack of integrity
• Original misconduct occurred amid serious personal difficulties (son's serious illness, marriage breakdown, financial crisis/bankruptcy)
• Over 12 years had passed since the suspension; application not premature
• Personal and financial life now stable; bankruptcy discharged
• Positive character references and no objections following advertisement
• Continued to work in a related sector (bank) and undertook relevant compliance training
• Acknowledged insight and remorse; accepted return would need careful management and conditions