A solicitor who ran up client account shortages of more than £1m through a series of unauthorised payments – including one to cover his own tax bill – has been struck off.
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal found that probate specialist Andrew Brian Alexander Cooper, admitted in 2007, had abused his position of power and authority over three years with his ‘deliberate and calculated’ misconduct.
The tribunal heard that Cooper had overseen 83 transfers in total out of the client account without consent, seven of which were made to HM Revenue & Customs in respect of his own liabilities. Payments to cover his personal tax bill came to almost £77,000. Several of the other payments to third parties personally benefitted him.
In total, investigators from the Solicitors Regulation Authority found a cash shortage of almost £1.2m arising from improper payments being made from the client account of his firm, Streathers Solicitors, based in Baker Street, London.
Cooper was also found to have inserted a signature onto a change-of-address letter to HMRC on behalf of an executor client without their knowledge or consent, when he was acting in the administration of an estate. The client discovered the deception when she later contacted HMRC and was unable to pass security checks.
The executor emailed Cooper to say it was ‘alarming’ that her signature appeared to have been fraudulently copied, after the solicitor denied sending the HMRC letter. The dishonesty was revealed when the firm found a deleted email on Cooper’s computer system.
In September 2022, Cooper was summoned to a meeting at which he was presented with evidence of irregular transfers or payments. He stood up, stated ‘I am absolutely fucked’ and left the building. He was not represented at the tribunal and did not engage with the disciplinary proceedings.
Cooper was struck off and ordered to pay £29,451 costs.
