Chandrika Achala Devi URBAN

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

Ms Urban, a Queensland solicitor, faced 15 charges arising from complaints involving four clients including gross overcharging, illegal transfer of disputed trust funds, misappropriation of trust monies, breach of an undertaking, borrowing $50,000 from a client without independent advice, and repeated failures to respond to statutory notices. She did not respond or appear; the matter was heard on the papers. The Tribunal found professional misconduct, including serious breaches of honesty and trust and misappropriation of client funds, and held she was not a fit and proper person to practise. It ordered her name removed from the local roll, payment of $2,500 costs, and $6,185 compensation to client John Tiplady.

Duties found breached:

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

Aggravating factors:

• Large scale and number of failures showing near-contempt for professional obligations
• Prompt and prolonged default on client loan (six years, money lost to client)
• Inference she had no real intention to repay borrowed funds
• Exploitation of injured/vulnerable clients
• Failure to file any response or attend hearings