Christopher Mark Howdle

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

Christopher Mark Howdle, a solicitor and partner at Knights, Freeths and KJD Freeths, faced five allegations of improper handling of client money. The Tribunal found all allegations proved beyond reasonable doubt in his absence. He caused an improper £25,000 transfer between unrelated clients, submitted an SDLT form with an understated purchase price (£245,000 instead of £745,000), used client account as a banking facility to pay his own personal tax liability of £11,667.06, and made 25 improper withdrawals from client accounts of Freeths and KJD totalling nearly £2,000,000 for the benefit of unrelated clients. Dishonesty was expressly found proved in respect of allegations 1.4 and 1.5 (applying the Ivey test) but not proved for allegation 1.2. Given the finding of dishonesty and absence of exceptional circumstances, the Respondent was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £27,000.

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• No taking unfair advantage
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Act in the client's best interests
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty alleged and proved (allegations 1.4 and 1.5)
• Improper transfers became deliberate, calculated and repeated
• Misconduct continued over a period of time (approx. one year)
• Some clients potentially vulnerable (releasing equity from homes)
• Respondent was in a position of trust as partner and experienced solicitor
• Knew or ought to have known conduct breached obligations to protect public and reputation of profession
• Reputational damage to three firms and impact on clients C and M

Mitigating factors:

• Made admissions in interview (though later distanced himself via solicitors)
• Limited insight
• Co-operated with investigating body
• Claimed overwork, stress and a family member's serious accident (no medical evidence provided)
• No previous disciplinary matters