Betty Igwebike Forde
Solicitor
283419

Decision - Prosecution

Outcome: Referral to Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal

Outcome date: 22 December 2023

Published date: 10 April 2024

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Anchor Legal Services

Address(es): 8-10 Greatorex Street, London E1 5NF

Firm ID: 644458

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Reasons/basis

This notification relates to a Decision to prosecute before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.  This is an independent Tribunal which will reach its own decision after considering all the evidence, including any evidence put forward by the Solicitor.

The Tribunal has certified that there is a case to answer in respect of allegations which are or include that, while in practice as a Solicitor, she: 

1. Between at least 31 July 2021 and 15 December 2022, failed to comply adequately with or remedy breaches of the SRA Accounts Rules 2019 in relation to any or all of:
   1. Keeping and maintaining accurate, contemporaneous, and
   2. chronological records in relation to client ledgers, client balances and a cash book;  
   3. Keeping a central record of all bills or other written notification of costs
   4. Keeping client money separate from business money
   5. Ensuring adequate client account reconciliations are undertaken, and signed off, at least every five weeks
2. Between at least 31 July 2021 and 15 December 2022, failed to properly account for all payments received from clients in a ledger for that client; 
3. Between at least 31 July 2021 and 15 December 2022, failed to ensure that the return of funds to clients was properly dealt with through the firm’s accounts, or at all. 
4. Made improper claims under a Legal Aid Authority contract relating to mental health tribunal cases for various hospital attendances by fee earners of Anchor Legal Solicitors for which the hospitals in question were unable to produce any records.

The allegations are subject to a Hearing before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and are as yet unproven. 

Decision - Closure

Outcome: Intervention

Outcome date: 24 July 2023

Published date: 27 July 2023

Firm details

Firm or organisation at date of publication

Name: Anchor Legal Solicitors

Address(es): 8-10 Greatorex Street, London, E1 5NF

Firm ID: 644458

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

To intervene into the practice of Ms Betty Forde.

Reasons/basis

The Adjudication Panel were satisfied that Ms Betty Igwebike Forde had failed to comply with the rules made under sections 31 and 32 of the Solicitors Act 1974 (as amended) - paragraph 1(1)(c) of Schedule 1 to the Act.

Intervening agents

Chris Evans of Lester Aldridge LLP, Russell House, Oxford Road, Bournemouth, BH8 8EX has been appointed as the intervening agent.

For enquiries please call 01202 786341 or email Interventions@LA-Law.com