ADAMANTOPOULOS

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

Konstantinos Adamantopoulos, a Greek Dikigoros and Managing Partner of the Brussels office of Hammonds LLP (later Squire Patton Boggs), faced a s43 application. The SDT found he used the Firm's money without authorisation to pay a personal Hammonds Direct capital call and company set-up costs, and that he billed or attempted to bill personal family holiday costs (Greece and Zermatt) to clients as disbursements, plus improperly described Expenses 213 charges. The Tribunal applied the criminal standard of proof and the Twinsectra test for dishonesty. It found the conduct was dishonest by objective standards and lacked integrity, but was NOT sure the Respondent subjectively realised his conduct was dishonest, so dishonesty was not found. A s43 order was made restricting his employment in SRA-regulated practices without permission. Applications to anonymise the judgment and allegations of conspiracy/backdating against witnesses were rejected. The Respondent was ordered to pay £65,000 on account of costs (schedule over £133,000) with costs subject to detailed assessment.

Duties found breached:

• Honesty
• Act in the client's best interests
• Disclose referrals, commissions and benefits
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Aggressive and unfocused conduct of the proceedings, extending a 5-day hearing considerably
• Made serious, unfounded allegations of dishonesty/backdating against the KPMG investigator (Mr Dougall) and of document tampering against the Firm without evidential basis ('dead cats')
• No admissions made; contested every point
• Gave incredible and shifting explanations (e.g. the 'Chinese surveyor' explanation for the Zermatt costs)
• Deliberate attempt to bill Zermatt ski holiday costs to clients, stopped only by arrival of investigators
• Sense of entitlement to firm money while already significantly overdrawn

Mitigating factors:

• No previous disciplinary or regulatory matters
• Lawyer of high standing, expertise and exemplary professional record
• Repaid the sums involved (HD capital call and Zermatt costs)
• Conduct not found to be subjectively dishonest

⚠ figures not found verbatim in the source were dropped: ["review_dishonesty_finding_cue_present"]