The Respondent admitted all the allegations. The Tribunal found all the allegations proved and was satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the Respondent’s admissions were properly made. Accordingly, the Tribunal found that the Respondent had breached Principles 2, 4 and 5 of the SRA Principles 2019, Rules 5.1, 6.1 and 8.3, SRA Account Rules 2019, paragraphs 1.4, 4.2, 7.3 and 7.4 of the SRA Code of Conduct
Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs and RFLs 2019 as well as paragraph 9.2 of the SRA Code of Conduct for Firms 2019.

Given the seriousness of the Respondent’s misconduct, the only appropriate and proportionate sanction was to strike the Respondent, off the Roll of Solicitors. The Tribunal did not find that there were any exceptional circumstances to justify a lesser sanction. No order of costs was made.