Kojo Asare

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

Kojo Asare, admitted 1995 and practising as Cuthberts & Co, was found guilty of conduct unbefitting a solicitor. He failed to honour an undertaking to pay £18,000 in a divorce matter, paid client money (£18,000 from Ms O) into a personal Lloyds TSB account rather than a client account and failed to account for it (client account left in credit by only 24 pence), abandoned his practice (prompting Law Society intervention), failed to respond to Law Society correspondence, and failed to pay an expert psychiatrist's fee of £720 (default judgment obtained). No formal allegation of dishonesty was made, though the Tribunal found he had utilised the client's money for his own purposes. Given a prior 2003 Tribunal finding and fine, the Tribunal struck him off the Roll and ordered costs of £4,000.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• No improper solicitation or touting
• No improper use of client money
• Pay instructed practitioners and agents

Aggravating factors:

• Previous Tribunal appearance in 2003 resulting in a £3,500 fine
• Appeared to have learned nothing from his earlier appearance
• Failed to safeguard the sanctity of client money
• No explanation offered; took no part in proceedings
• Abandoned clients' interests