Kirsten Von Wedel

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

Kirsten Von Wedel, sole practitioner of K Law, was found to have failed to comply with a mortgage redemption undertaking, failed to pay SDLT and register a client's property, made false representations to a client and to other solicitors, sent offensive and threatening emails to a client, made improper transfers from the client account, and made 41 undocumented round-sum client-to-office transfers causing a £182,005 shortage, as well as failing to co-operate with an SRA Production Notice. The Tribunal made four express findings of dishonesty. Finding no exceptional circumstances, it struck her off the Roll and ordered her to pay costs of £49,001.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Cooperate openly with regulators
• Honour professional undertakings

Aggravating factors:

• Four findings of dishonesty
• Deliberate, calculated and repeated misconduct over a two-year period involving more than one client
• Element of bullying in correspondence with RP
• Concealment of wrongdoing through false representations
• Sought to blame clients, their solicitors and banks for her own misconduct
• Refused meaningfully to co-operate with the SRA
• Very experienced solicitor (admitted 2000)
• Breach of trust involving personal friendships as well as solicitor-client relationships

Mitigating factors:

• Working under severe pressures at the material time including hospitalisation and lockdown/home-schooling
• Partial admission to Allegation 1.8