Between
| Applicant | Solicitors Regulation Authority Ltd |
|---|---|
| Respondent | Betty Igwebike Forde |
Case details
| Allegation | Breaches, Client Money, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Failures, Money Laundering Regulations, Solicitors Accounts Rules 2019, SRA Principles 2019 |
|---|---|
| Outcome | Strike off |
| Executive summary | The Respondent was the Principal of the Firm and additionally held the roles of COLP, COFA and MLRO at the Firm. The conduct in this matter came to the attention of the Applicant following a referral from the LAA. The Firm held a contract with the LAA to provide legal advice and representation to clients who were detained under various Mental Health Acts, and to represent those clients for any appeal hearings. The LAA had terminated the contract between itself and the Firm on 24 February 2021. The basis of the termination included the quality of the work undertaken by the Firm, and that claims for work undertaken under the contract had been made but there was no evidence that the work had in fact been carried out. As a result of the referral made by the LAA, the Applicant commenced a forensic investigation of the Firm in July 2021. Serious breaches of the SRA AR were identified as a result of this investigation. The Firm was intervened into by the Applicant on 25 July 2023. The Respondent did not attend the substantive hearing which was heard in her absence. The Tribunal found all allegations proved on the balance of probabilities. |