Issac Agyemang Baffour

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

Solicitor Isaac Agyemang Baffour faced two sets of allegations. The first concerned a damages claim following flooding at his offices, in which he falsely claimed loss of earnings for two solicitors who were not working at the firm, falsely represented that he acted for Baftas Solicitors LLP, and made false statements regarding when the LLP ceased operating and whether he was the solicitor on record. The Tribunal found all four sub-allegations proved with dishonesty. The second set concerned his conveyancing handling of a client's property sale, including failing to retain deposit monies as stakeholder, fabricating a client authority letter dated 5 May 2010 (found dishonest), failing to account for completion monies, providing poor service, failing to comply with a Legal Ombudsman direction, failing to fulfil undertakings to another firm, and providing misleading information about redemption statements. The Tribunal found dishonesty in the false loss of earnings claim, false court representations, and the fabricated letter. Given the calculated dishonesty, lack of insight, and absence of exceptional circumstances, the Respondent was struck off and ordered to pay costs of £44,164.44.

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Act in the client's best interests
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• No conflict between current clients
• Honour professional undertakings

Aggravating factors:

• Calculated dishonesty in two separate and unrelated situations
• Fabrication of a document (forged client authority letter)
• Lack of insight into misconduct, making him hazardous to the public
• Put his own interests before those of others
• Client kept out of a considerable sum of money (in excess of £27,000)
• Multiple false statements under statements of truth to the Court
• Failure to comply with Legal Ombudsman direction

Mitigating factors:

• No previous disciplinary matters
• Difficult personal circumstances including a series of family bereavements
• Sole support of family with five children, two very young
• Charises on Mr W's property were eventually all discharged
• Character evidence describing him as honest and dedicated