Mohammed Arshad Amin

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

Mohammed Arshad Amin, sole director, COLP and COFA of Octagon Solicitors Limited, faced seven allegations of misconduct including a client account shortage of £27,551.25, improper withdrawal of £16,000 client monies, failure to reconcile accounts, failure to co-operate with the SRA, failure to perform orderly closure of the firm, and failure to provide proper service to two clients (Ms A and Ms W). All allegations were proved. The Tribunal found dishonesty proved in respect of Allegation 1.2 (improper withdrawal of £16,000) and Allegation 1.4 (failure to co-operate), but not proved for Allegation 1.1. The Respondent did not attend and the hearing proceeded in his absence. Given the dishonesty and absence of exceptional circumstances, the Tribunal ordered that he be struck off the Roll and pay costs of £14,586.20.

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Account for interest on client money
• Orderly wind-down and contingency cover
• Cooperate openly with regulators

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty (Allegations 1.2 and 1.4)
• Misconduct was deliberate, calculated and repeated over a significant period
• Concealment of wrongdoing
• Respondent sought to blame the bookkeeper
• Knew misconduct breached obligations to protect public and reputation of profession
• Highly experienced solicitor with full control as sole director, COLP and COFA
• Failure to arrange run-off insurance cover, putting clients at risk

Mitigating factors:

• Previously unblemished career