The legal community was abuzz as the sentencing of Analiza Kjaer, a former solicitor stripped of her credentials, faced an adjournment. The conviction centered around her failure to transfer a substantial £132,000 divorce settlement to her client. As the Central Criminal Court gathered for the hearing, the intricate details of the fraud and its impact unfolded.
Kjaer, admitted in April 2005 and subsequently struck off in 2022, had been entrusted with handling divorce proceedings in 2020. Despite a £132,000 settlement entering the firm’s account in three installments, Kjaer failed to facilitate the transfer to her client. This egregious breach led the client to report Kjaer to the police, Action Fraud, and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
The court revealed that Kjaer diverted a portion of the funds for personal and business expenses, including withdrawals, loan repayments, and settling a self-assessment tax bill with HMRC. Shockingly, only £64,000 remained in the client account.
The SRA intervened in Kjaer’s practice and Able Law in June 2021, ultimately compensating the client with £132,000 from the Compensation Fund, along with interest to cover her losses.
During the hearing, a victim impact statement from the client was read by Dennis Barry, the prosecutor. The client detailed the devastating fallout, losing her home, money, and facing a sudden upheaval in her life. She described how the incident led to weight loss, sleepless nights, and lingering trust issues with professionals.
Her Honour Judge Trowler KC adjourned the sentencing to spring, citing the need for a detailed chronology and additional information related to Kjaer’s mitigation.
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