The Applicant is a former solicitor having been admitted to the Roll in January 2000. On 29 May 2008, the Applicant worked as one of three partners of South Bank Solicitors at 213A Clapham Road, London SW9 0QH (“the Firm”). On 29 May 2008, the Applicant was struck from the Roll of Solicitors by Order of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (“the Tribunal”) following a substantive hearing.

On 10 October 2007, a Forensic Investigation Officer of the Law Society (“the FIO”) commenced an inspection of the Firm. A copy of the FIO’s report dated 15 October 2007 was before the Tribunal. The FIO’s inspection revealed a minimum cash shortage of £428,546 which arose following the Applicant’s misuse of client funds in a conveyancing transaction. The FIO could only calculate a minimum cash shortage because of the absence of accurate records in the Firm. The FIO’s report indicated that the cash shortage could be as high as £1.7 million.

The resultant disciplinary proceedings against the Applicant are detailed below.