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Other than most practicioners detest the SRA and won't support them understandably, I can't see what Mr Gray did is really what other solicitors should be doing.
Whilst I accept one has a duty to act in a client's best interests, unless you've got a watertight all-embracing general client mandate to settle on best terms, I've never in decades of practice ever settled a claim without seeking my client's instructions first. That is particuarly the case when this firm handles bulk PI work and may not have had a tight grip on where the clients were coming from or whether the clients had any appetite to continue with the claim.
As one poster has said, do it once perhaps but on 8 occasions? If you have an offer recieved, and you fear that your client has gone walkabout and isn't giving instructions the simple option is to close the file or come off record (if proceedings are issued) and then close the file. I can't see it's right and proper to send a message that it's ok to continue acting in claims when you don't have instructions, pocket the fees for your own purposes but try and gift the damages to charity. If you're without instructions, terminate the funding agreement/CFA, stop acting and bill your client (if you can find him/her).