Andreas Theophanous NicolaouAdmitted 1968Application 7985/1999Hearing, 22 February 2000;reasons, 13 April 2000

The SDT imposed a penalty of 3,000 on the respondent, of 393 Green Lanes, Harringay, London N4 1EU, who practised in a partnership but later as a sole principal, for failing to account promptly to clients, contrary to r.20 of the Solicitors Accounts Rules 1991; and for unbefitting conduct, in that he had been responsible for unreasonable delay in dealing with client affairs, and he had failed to deal promptly with correspondence from the OSS.

In September 1997, the SDT had imposed a penalty of 1,000 on him for unbefitting conduct.

The tribunal was dismayed that the allegations in February 2000 arose from the same client matter as the earlier allegations, but gave the respondent credit for having put matters right before the hearing.

The respondent was ordered to pay costs (to be assessed).