Kevin Harper

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

Kevin Harper, admitted 2002 and formerly practising as Josephs Solicitors LLP/Josephs Solicitors in Blackburn, was found guilty of conduct unbefitting a solicitor for failing to comply with an Adjudicator's direction to pay compensation of £1,964.65 to a client, failing to maintain compliant professional indemnity insurance, and failing to comply with a Northampton County Court order. He did not appear or respond and had relocated to Thailand, apparently abandoning his responsibilities. The Tribunal imposed an indefinite suspension and ordered costs of £6,974.11, and directed that the Adjudicator's IPS direction be enforceable as a High Court Order. No dishonesty was expressly found.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Advise on alternatives, settlement and outcome
• Professional indemnity insurance
• No improper solicitation or touting

Aggravating factors:

• Abandoned professional responsibilities and left the country (living in Thailand)
• Persistent failure to respond to regulator correspondence
• Failure to comply with a County Court judgment as an Officer of the Court
• Undermining the authority of the professional regulator