Charles Vincent Rowe

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

Charles Vincent Rowe, a solicitor admitted in 1964 practising as a sole practitioner, acted for S I Ltd, a Jersey company. Between 1986 and 1987 he instigated the transfer of substantial sums (totalling around £317,913) belonging to the company into accounts including his client account and used the money for his own purposes in connection with bloodstock transactions. He claimed these were authorised loans agreed with Mr Bottomley, whose holding company was a one-third shareholder; Mr Bottomley denied authorising any loans and made a claim on the Law Society Compensation Fund. A civil judgment against the respondent proved unenforceable as he was insolvent. The Tribunal found all allegations substantiated, finding his evidence unconvincing and that he helped himself to money to which he was not entitled. He had previously been suspended for six months in February 1990 for related conduct. The Tribunal ordered him struck off the Roll and to pay costs, with filing of the order suspended for 14 days to allow consideration of an appeal. The Tribunal characterised the conduct as 'entirely reprehensible' but made no express finding of dishonesty.

Duties found breached:

• No improper solicitation or touting
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Previous disciplinary history - suspended for six months in February 1990 and previously rebuked by the Adjudication Committee
• Very large sums of client money involved
• No documentation of the purported loans
• Respondent did not display regret or contrition
• Fellow practitioners had to contribute to the Compensation Fund to cover client losses
• Judgment against respondent unenforceable; respondent insolvent

Mitigating factors:

• Long passage of time (ten or eleven years) since the transactions, with witnesses' memories dimmed
• Respondent had repaid £51,500 of the monies