Rajeswary Ramasamy

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

Rajeswary Ramasamy, sole principal of Thames Chambers Solicitors, faced six allegations arising from the involvement of RSP, a struck-off solicitor, in her Firm. The Tribunal found proved that she had remunerated RSP (in the wider Cunnew sense), permitted him to conduct litigation, and allowed him to use the Firm's 'MH' email account, involving breaches of multiple Principles and Outcomes. Dishonesty was alleged across all allegations but was found proved only in respect of Allegation 1.4 - the personal issuing of a £600 bill on 16 December 2011 for court attendance/drafting either done by a struck-off solicitor or, to her belief, not done at all. Allegation 1.2 (concerned in management) was found not proved, and Allegation 1.5 (VAT) was proved only in part (Outcomes 10.2/10.3 re the Compensation Fund claim) with no finding of dishonesty or lack of integrity. Given the dishonesty finding combined with sustained lack of integrity and no exceptional circumstances, the Tribunal struck her off the Roll and ordered costs of £70,123.30 (reduced from £91,357.15). The subsequent High Court appeal was dismissed.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• No conflict between current clients
• Not misrepresent regulated status

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty in respect of Allegation 1.4
• Misconduct repeated over a period of time
• Failure to respond to a clear SRA warning given in 2012 about RSP's involvement
• Lack of meaningful insight into the misconduct
• Respondent knew or ought to have known she was in material breach of her obligations

Mitigating factors:

• No actual financial loss caused - the £600 bill and VAT claims were never paid
• Respondent's difficult route into the profession and limited experience (less than three years, largely in Malaysia)
• Respondent was seriously unwell during part of the material time
• Highly regarded by her clients
• English was not her first language