Paul Sohal

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

Paul Sohal (First Respondent), a director of Benson Watkins & Co Ltd, was found to have acted dishonestly by forging a letter purportedly from the Solicitors' Benevolent Association to put a partner 'off the trail' and by creating 58 fictitious backdated bills and false accounting entries overnight before an SRA inspection to conceal an improper transfer of £58,164.25 of client Mr H's funds. The Tribunal did not find proved that he made the original transfers or signed reconciliations dishonestly. He admitted all 10 allegations including breaches of the SAR 1998. The Tribunal expressly found dishonesty, rejected exceptional circumstances under Sharma, and struck him off, ordering £34,000 costs (unenforceable without leave). The Second Respondent, found liable largely on a strict-liability basis with no knowledge of the misconduct, was fined £3,000 with £18,000 costs.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Act in the client's best interests
• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty was deliberate and calculated, not momentary
• Two distinct instances of dishonesty occurring some time apart
• Actions placed client money at serious risk
• Presentation of false documents to the Investigation Officer

Mitigating factors:

• No finding that First Respondent caused the disappearance of client money
• No personal gain/benefit
• Ultimately made good the loss (loans of c.£113,000 from family/friends)
• Frank admissions to the Applicant and Tribunal
• Suffered a serious hit-and-run road accident with consistent history of PTSD
• Numerous testimonials
• No previous disciplinary matters