Zahid Akhtar

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

Freelance solicitor Zahid Akhtar undertook immigration work between around 28 February and 25 July 2022 when not authorised to do so (neither a recognised sole practitioner nor manager/employee/member of an authorised body), despite repeated warnings from the SRA. Allegation 1.1 was found proved (breaches of Principle 2 and Regulations 9.5 and 10.1). Allegation 1.2, alleging dishonesty in telling the SRA he had ceased immigration work, was found NOT proved; the Tribunal accepted that the Respondent held a genuine, albeit unreasonable, understanding that transferring work into Mr Dean's name regularised the position, so dishonesty was not established. The Tribunal found high culpability and moderate harm, and imposed a 12-month suspension plus indefinite practice conditions, and ordered costs of £9,500 (reduced from £12,000 due to the Respondent's financial circumstances).

Duties found breached:

• Not misrepresent regulated status
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Knew or ought reasonably to have known the conduct was in material breach of obligations to protect the public and the reputation of the profession
• Continued misconduct despite repeated warnings from the regulator
• Misconduct was deliberate, calculated and repeated over a sustained period
• Blamed others for his misconduct and persisted in this during the hearing
• Lacked insight and proper understanding of the seriousness of his actions

Mitigating factors:

• No previous disciplinary findings
• No financial gain from the work and did not personally represent clients in court
• No primary evidence of harm to clients
• Claimed to be a victim of circumstance under influence of senior colleagues
• Poor health and being sole breadwinner of a young family