Matthew Apau Obeng & Adeyoye Adeyemi

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

Two partners of Matthew Wokeson & Co (a solicitor and a Registered Foreign Lawyer) faced seven allegations relating to accounts breaches and mortgage/conveyancing misconduct. The Tribunal found all allegations proved on the documentary evidence, including acting in numerous suspicious conveyancing transactions (sub-sales with large uplifts, directly paid deposits, failure to control purchase monies), failing to disclose material information to lender clients, dealing with a bogus firm, breaching an undertaking, and inadequate supervision. No express finding of dishonesty was made. The First Respondent was suspended indefinitely from practice as a solicitor; the Second Respondent was suspended indefinitely from the Register of Foreign Lawyers. Both were made jointly and severally liable for costs of £34,800, not to be enforced without leave of the Tribunal.

Duties found breached:

• Disclose material information to client
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Honour professional undertakings

Aggravating factors:

• Substantial financial losses to lender clients (sample transactions exceeded £5,830,000 advanced)
• Pending claims against the compensation fund estimated at £15,000,000-£16,000,000
• Members of the public suffered loss (e.g. £12,000 deposit on Westwell Road)
• First Respondent was founding partner and sole operator of client account who signed Certificates of Title
• Release of mortgage advance to FMH Ltd, a company owned/controlled by First Respondent, without lender authority
• Second Respondent knew he should not undertake conveyancing but continued regardless
• Failure to attend the hearing or provide explanation or demonstrate remorse

Mitigating factors:

• First Respondent was a relatively inexperienced solicitor
• First Respondent not solely responsible for what occurred
• No previous disciplinary sanctions