Charles Ayodemiji Ewan

• Application 10269-2009
• Admitted 1998
• Hearing 20 May 2010
• Reasons 30 June 2010

The SDT ordered that the respondent, of Ewan & Co Solicitors, 33 York Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 5AE, should pay a fine of £4,000.

The respondent had failed, or in the alternative delayed, in delivering accountant’s reports to the Solicitors Regulation Authority within the permitted time, contrary to section 34 of the Solicitors Act 1974; no proper accounting records had been kept or maintained, in breach of rules 1, and 32(2) and (4) of the Solicitors Accounts Rules 1998; and no bank reconciliation had been prepared, in breach of rule 32(7) of the rules.

The SDT found that when the respondent had set up his practice in April 2006 he had not been aware of the requirements of the Accounts Rules. No solicitor should be allowed to practise without fully realising his duties under the Accounts Rules. There had also been a serious delay in the production of accounts with the first report two years late, the second over one year late and the third, five months late. However, the respondent had told the SDTof the steps that he had taken to rectify the situation and of his new understanding of the Rules. It was not for the SDT to comment on the adjudicator’s decision as to conditions on the respondent’s practising certificate or the respondent’s appeal against that decision. However, the SDT did wish to suggest that having two offices at a distance made matters very difficult where there was only one partner in charge of the total business. The respondent might therefore like to consider whether it would be sensible to embrace partnership rather than trying to manage matters on his own.

The respondent was ordered to pay costs of £4,800.