Paul Sohal

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

Paul Sohal (First Respondent) and a co-director ran Benson Watkins & Co Ltd. An SRA forensic investigation found £58,164.25 of client Mr H's funds had been improperly transferred to office account, plus a further ~£23,048.50 shortage from 79 improper bills. Sohal admitted forging a Solicitors' Benevolent Association letter to put a partner 'off the trail' and creating 58 fictitious backdated bills and numerous false Osprey accounting entries overnight before the investigator's visit to conceal the missing money. The Tribunal found dishonesty proved (admitted) on two aspects of allegation 1.1, and all substantive allegations proved. The Tribunal did not find dishonesty on the improper transfers themselves or the backdated reconciliations. Finding the misconduct too serious for anything but strike off or suspension and that the case did not fall into the residual Sharma category despite medical mitigation, the Tribunal struck Sohal off the Roll and ordered £34,000 costs (not enforceable without leave). The Second Respondent, largely liable on a strict/vicarious basis with no knowledge of the wrongdoing, was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £18,000 costs (total costs £52,000).

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Deliberate and calculated dishonesty (forging SBA letter and creating 58 fictitious bills/false accounting entries to conceal missing client money)
• Dishonesty not momentary - two distinct instances some time apart
• Presented false documents to the Investigation Officer and denied misuse of client funds when asked
• Client money placed at serious risk (£58,164.25 shortage plus £23,048.50)

Mitigating factors:

• Not found to have taken the missing client money himself
• No personal financial gain
• Ultimately made good the loss (repaid via family/friends, ~£113,000)
• Made admissions to the SRA and to the Tribunal
• Suffered a serious hit-and-run road accident months before, with psychiatric report showing history consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder
• Inexperience, rapid expansion of firm, over-reliance on bookkeeper (Ms JM)
• Numerous positive testimonials