A fee-earner has been banned from working in the profession after siphoning client funds to fellow fraudsters.
In 2013, Caprice Lindo arranged to transfer up to £569,000 worth of money from the client account of O’Neill Patient Solicitors to the account of her associates.
Lindo, who worked in the conveyancing department of the Cheshire firm, was investigated and dismissed following a client complaint according to a notice published by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
Whilst she joined the firm in October 2013, Lindo left before the end of that year.
Following her departure from the firm, Lindo went on to seek employment with other law firms under the name ‘Chloe Wilson’ before being convicted of fraud by abuse of position in 2017.
She was sentenced to three and a half years’ in prison.
The SRA also made her subject to a section 43 notice, in light of their belief that it was undesirable for her to work in the legal profession again. This effectively prevents her from being employed by a regulated practice in absence of its permission.
The regulator said: ‘She abused the trust placed in her by the firm and their clients to misappropriate client money for the benefit of herself and others. Her actions were dishonest.’
Lindo will pay the £600 SRA investigation costs.
