Azfar Bajwa

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

Azfar Naseem Bajwa, an unregistered barrister (called by Gray's Inn in 1996, never practised at the Bar) who was also a solicitor, faced charges arising from matters previously found proven by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. As principal of his firm he pursued late, meritless immigration applications and judicial review claims (certified Totally Without Merit) which he knew were not properly arguable, and misled clients about their prospects of success, causing them to incur expense. He admitted charges 1, 2, 3 and 7, and contested charges 4, 5 and 6. The Tribunal found his conduct was likely to diminish trust and confidence in the legal profession and demonstrated a lack of integrity and openness. The Tribunal disbarred him on counts 3, 4, 5 and 6, with no further sanction on the remaining counts, and made an order under rE227 preventing the BSB from issuing him a practising certificate.

Duties found breached:

• No baseless or threatened misconduct report
• No taking unfair advantage
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Misled clients as to their prospects of success, causing them to incur expense on judicial review applications
• Applications certified as Totally Without Merit and described as an intolerable waste
• Direct control and responsibility as principal of the firm

Mitigating factors:

• No clients complained about the respondent in relation to the matters before the Tribunal
• All clients paid privately for the respondent's services