The Respondent, Mr Eric Kawoya Kabuye, appeared before the Tribunal in connection with allegations arising from his conduct while practising as a solicitor, sole manager, director, COLP and COFA at Queenscourt Law Ltd t/a Hamilton Solicitors. The allegations concerned the facilitation of fraudulent property transactions, misuse of the Firm’s client account, lack of supervision and governance, failure to cooperate with the SRA investigation, and manifest incompetence.

The Respondent admitted Allegations 1.1 and 1.2, and the Tribunal found Allegations 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5 proved. The Tribunal did not find that the Respondent had acted with a lack of integrity. The findings were delivered on 8 August 2025 following a hearing held between 4 and 8 August 2025.

The Tribunal found that the Respondent had, in practical terms, acted as COLP and COFA during the relevant period, and that his conduct had facilitated fraudulent property transactions resulting in significant client account shortages. The Tribunal also found that the Respondent had failed to exercise adequate control and oversight of the Firm, and that his conduct amounted to manifest incompetence.

The Tribunal considered that the finding of manifest incompetence was limited to the Respondent’s conveyancing practice and his management and oversight of the Firm. Taking into account his previously unblemished regulatory record since admission in 2003, and his expressed remorse and insight into his failings, the Tribunal concluded that the seriousness of the conduct and the need to protect the public could be met by a suspension from practice for six months, suspended for twelve months, with appropriate conditions imposed on his practice as a solicitor.