Kojo Asare

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

Kojo Asare, a solicitor practising as Cuthberts & Co, was found guilty of conduct unbefitting a solicitor on six counts: failing to respond to Law Society correspondence, breaching an undertaking to forward £18,000 following a property transfer, holding client money outside a client account, failing to account for £19,000 of client money, abandoning his practice, and failing to pay an expert's fee. Ms O had paid £18,000 into the Respondent's personal Lloyds TSB account, and at intervention the client account held only 24 pence. Although no formal allegation of dishonesty was made, the Tribunal found he had utilised client money for his own purposes. He had a prior 2003 Tribunal finding (fine of £3,500). The Respondent did not appear. The Tribunal struck him off the Roll and ordered him to pay costs of £4,000.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• No improper use of client money
• Pay instructed practitioners and agents
• No improper solicitation or touting

Aggravating factors:

• Previous appearance before the Tribunal in 2003 resulting in a fine
• Appeared to have learned nothing from his earlier appearance
• Client money found missing with client account in credit by only 24 pence
• No explanation offered and did not participate in proceedings