Imran Uddin & Muzammil Hussain Abid

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

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal heard allegations against two partners of Crescent Law Limited concerning fraudulent personal injury claims, misdirection of clients' damages, failure to supervise, and other matters. The Second Respondent (Abid), head of the PI department, was found to have acted dishonestly in causing/allowing the Firm to pursue fraudulent claims and in paying clients' damages (Clients 1, 2, 3) to third parties without consent, and in lying to the SRA/FIO about a directorship of JDA. He was struck off the Roll. The First Respondent (Uddin), senior partner, COLP and COFA, admitted causing/allowing the misconduct through systemic failures but no dishonesty was found against him; he was suspended for 2 years with practising restrictions preventing him acting as sole practitioner, COLP or COFA. Allegations 1.3 and 3.1 were dismissed. No fine or costs figures were stated in the provided text (the 2007 fine of GBP5,000 and costs of GBP7,250 related to his earlier disciplinary matter, not this sanction).

Duties found breached:

• Act in the client's best interests
• Cooperate openly with regulators
• Integrity
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• No taking unfair advantage
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Supervise staff and delegated work
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• First Respondent: continuance of failures over a period of time; previous disciplinary appearance in 2007
• Second Respondent: findings of dishonesty; misconduct deliberate, calculated and continued over time; attempted to conceal wrongdoing by relying on authorities he knew were not genuine; motivated by desire to increase revenue; treated CMCs as the client to retain referral work

Mitigating factors:

• First Respondent: some insight; accepted responsibility for systemic failings; co-operated with the FIO; personal and political distractions; remorse and apology
• Second Respondent: no previous disciplinary matters; expressed remorse; accepted findings; married with two young children