Former Ince & Co partner Andrew Iyer has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) for fraud charges involving £3m of client money.

The SDT judgment was based on four charges – that Iyer had failed to act with integrity, had compromised clients' best interests, had compromised the reputation of the profession and had created invoices for services not performed and/or expenses that had not been incurred.

Iyer, who was ordered to pay £11,671.32 in costs, was referred to the SDT in May last year after an initial investigation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority for misconduct.

The referral came after Iyer resigned from Ince in July 2010 following a period of suspension for "irregular financial behaviour". His actions are also being investigated by the Metropolitan Police's fraud squad.

Ince confirmed that £2.5m had "almost entirely been paid back to the clients affected", with a small proportion – "less than 5%" – delayed due to difficulties in tracing the correct recipients.

An SRA spokesperson said: "We welcome the decision of the SDT and we hope this serves as a warning to others. Solicitors have a trusted position in society and therefore have a duty to act with integrity, independence and in the best interests of their clients.

"The small minority who are proven to have failed to carry out these duties and therefore breach the Code of Conduct can expect to face disciplinary action. This decision follows a lengthy and complex investigation by members of SRA staff."

In a statement, Ince said: "The SDT's decision today to strike off Andrew Iyer follows his suspension by the firm in July 2010. The matter was immediately reported to the SRA and the firm has cooperated fully in their investigation. As the matter remains under investigation by the Metropolitan Police the firm has no further comment to make."

Iyer was global energy and offshore head at Ince at the time of his suspension. He had also carved out a career as a novelist and had written two legal thrillers, The Betrayed and Domino Run.

The news comes after former Mishcon de Reya property partner Kevin Steele was last month sentenced to five and a half years in jail after being found guilty of forgery and fraud offences in a €22m (£18.5m) loan scam.

Former Fulbright & Jaworski partner Richard Simkin is set to be sentenced in March after pleading guilty to charges of false accounting and fraud, while ex-Hogan Lovells partner Christopher Grierson is set to appear in Southwark Crown Court on 14 February after allegedly defrauding his former firm of £1m in false expenses claims.

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