Anthony Alabi

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

Anthony Alabi, sole principal of Advocates Solicitors, failed to obtain PII and was required to close his firm by 29 December 2013. He failed to notify the SRA of entry into the Extended Indemnity and Cessation Periods, failed to wind down his practice, continued to act for immigration clients (including conducting reserved litigation activities) while uninsured and later in breach of practising certificate conditions, retained client money, failed to comply with a Legal Ombudsman recommendation, and failed to co-operate with the SRA and respond to s44B notices. The Tribunal proceeded in his absence. Twelve of thirteen allegations were proved (allegation 1.6 regarding misleading OISC information was not proved, and part of 1.3 regarding Outcome 7.4 was not proved). The Tribunal found a significant want of integrity but no dishonesty. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £20,000.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Proper termination and return of instructions
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• Handle inadvertently received material
• No improper use of client money
• Orderly wind-down and contingency cover
• Hold a current practising certificate
• Cooperate openly with regulators
• Honour professional undertakings

Aggravating factors:

• Conduct was deliberate, calculated and continued over a period of months
• Concealed wrongdoing by not informing clients firm had closed and failing to co-operate with SRA
• Previous disciplinary finding (2010) for failing to co-operate with SRA, misconduct now repeated
• Experienced solicitor (over 10 years) and manager of own firm (about 8 years)
• Put clients at significant risk by continuing to act while uninsured

Mitigating factors:

• Asserted ill-health and family bereavement (mother's death), though unsupported by medical evidence relevant to misconduct period
• No dishonesty alleged or found
• No criminal offence committed