Charles Elwes Dunbar

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

Sole practitioner Charles Elwes Dunbar admitted 11 allegations arising from improperly paying out client funds, including an £80,000 deposit before a client's cheque cleared and a £143,098.62 transfer wrongly allocated to another client's ledger, creating a client account shortfall of nearly £230,000. He also mishandled a conveyancing matter (failing to register interests and protect a lender's charge), breached an undertaking, disclosed confidential client information, and failed to notify his indemnity insurers. The Tribunal found he lacked integrity but did not make an express finding of dishonesty. Regarding the case as at the highest level of seriousness, the Tribunal struck him off the Roll and ordered him to pay £16,000 costs.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Honour professional undertakings

Aggravating factors:

• Used substantial client funds for the benefit of a particular client, creating a shortfall of nearly £230,000
• 'Gambled' with client money relying on uncertain future funds
• Prior disciplinary finding in 2010 (fined £2,500)
• Matter came to light through a former colleague's report, not self-reporting
• Failed to reverse costs and took additional fees despite known shortfall

Mitigating factors:

• Cooperation with the SRA investigation
• Admissions of the allegations
• Apology to the Tribunal
• Reliance on client (Mrs B) assurances of forthcoming funds
• No intention to practise as a solicitor again