Zoe Ann Lowe

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

The Respondent, a solicitor acting for Client A in a personal injury claim, missed court deadlines for filing evidence and failed to notify the client when the defendant threatened to strike out the claim. She accepted a reduced settlement offer (£5,000) without the client's instructions and contrary to her last known instructions, then failed to inform Client A that the claim had been settled and monies received. Between January 2014 and March 2018 she made untrue statements misleading the client that her claim was ongoing. The misconduct came to light when Client A complained to the firm in April 2018. The Tribunal, on an Agreed Outcome dealt with on the papers, found the admissions properly made and that the misconduct was dishonest. No exceptional circumstances were advanced or found, so striking off was required.

Duties found breached:

• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonest conduct
• Prolonged misleading of the client over several years (2014-2018)
• Conduct concealed and only discovered through client complaint

Mitigating factors:

• Admissions made via Statement of Agreed Facts and Proposed Outcome
• Cooperation in resolving the matter by Agreed Outcome