Ellen Yee-Man Windsor

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

Ellen Yee-Man Windsor, a sole practitioner, received £30,000 from client Ms CG to fund a divorce settlement but failed to operate a client account, used the funds for her own and business purposes, made false/misleading statements to the opposing solicitors and to her client about the whereabouts of the money, failed to return the funds promptly (taking around two years), and sought to discourage the client from complaining to the SRA/Legal Ombudsman. The Tribunal, proceeding in her absence, found all allegations proved beyond reasonable doubt including express findings of dishonesty on allegations 1.2-1.5. She was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £33,727.45.

Duties found breached:

• Act in the client's best interests
• Integrity
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Prompt accounting and return of money
• Proper basis for allegations
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Multiple findings of dishonesty including misappropriation of client money
• Misleading her client and another solicitor regarding the funds
• Conduct extended over a significant period (around two years)
• Sought to obfuscate and conceal the true position by maintaining a non-existent loan agreement
• Failures in basic and fundamental matters any solicitor would be aware of
• High culpability; financial motivation; abuse of position of trust; experienced solicitor

Mitigating factors:

• Otherwise unblemished record over a long career
• Positive character testimonial describing professionalism and integrity
• Client ultimately repaid in full with favourable interest
• Claimed ill-health affecting state of mind (though unsupported by evidence)