The Respondent is a solicitor having been admitted to the Roll of Solicitors on 15 September 2014. The first recorded employment for the Respondent on SRA records commenced on 25 November 2019 when he was stated to be a freelance solicitor at “Zahid Akhtar”.

On 9 February 2023 the First Tier Immigration and Asylum Chamber reported to the SRA that the Respondent was trading from an unregulated entity. The SRA conducted an investigation which brought about an allegation against the Respondent that he had undertaken immigration work as a solicitor when he was neither a recognised sole practitioner nor a manager, employee or member of an authorised body, and had therefore breached elements of the SRA Principles 2019 and the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations 2019. This was the basis of Allegation 1.1.

The Respondent was also alleged to have dishonestly provided inaccurate and/or misleading information to the SRA in relation to him undertaking immigration work. This was the basis of Allegation 1.2.

The Tribunal found Allegation 1.1 proved in its entirety. In relation to Allegation 1.2, the Tribunal found that the Respondent had not acted dishonestly and consequently found Allegation 1.2 not proved.

The Tribunal Ordered that the Respondent be suspended from practice as a Solicitor for a period of 12 months to commence on the 22nd day of January 2025 and imposed a Restriction Order containing conditions that would apply should the Respondent return to practice.