Edward Anthony Bromet

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

Edward Anthony Bromet, sole director, COLP and COFA of Bromets Solicitors Ltd, made seven improper transfers from client accounts to the office account (£19,000 and £28,000) using the funds as working capital for the firm and himself, and dishonestly misled his co-trustee/client that trust funds were held in a high interest deposit account when they had been paid away. He admitted breaches of the SRA Principles, Accounts Rules and Code of Conduct, including one count of dishonesty in respect of allegation 1.2. Remaining contested allegations (including further dishonesty allegations) were stayed. The matter was resolved by Agreed Outcome. The Tribunal found dishonesty and, finding no exceptional circumstances, ordered that he be struck off the Roll and pay costs of £28,000. He also undertook never to apply for restoration.

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Act in the client's best interests
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• No conflict between current clients
• Handle inadvertently received material
• No improper use of client money
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty in misleading his co-trustee/client that funds were held in a high interest account when withdrawn for his own and the firm's benefit
• Repeated conduct - seven improper transfers over a four week period
• Misconduct concerning client account, a fundamental tenet of the profession
• Conduct exacerbated by allowing firm's letterhead to be used by another organisation over a two year period
• Conflict of interest as sole shareholder and trustee

Mitigating factors:

• No client suffered financial loss; funds replaced in full promptly
• Interest/income earned and paid to the trust beneficiary
• Early admissions to parts of the allegations
• Self-reported the matter to the SRA
• Remorse and apology; accepted the consequence of being struck off