Zahid Aziz Sheikh & Another

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

Two partners of Alo & Co faced allegations of misappropriating client money, providing false/misleading information to the SRA, failing to cooperate, and failing to fulfil undertakings. The First Respondent was found to have behaved in a way likely to diminish public trust (allegation 1(b)) by failing to take proper steps to divest himself of the partnership and notify interested parties; the more serious allegations (1(a) integrity/misappropriation and allegation 2 undertakings) were found NOT proved against him, and no dishonesty was found on his part. He was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay one quarter of costs (£6,557.83). The Second Respondent (Zahid Aziz Sheikh, RFL), who did not appear, was found to have committed all allegations dishonestly and knowingly, including misappropriation of client money and breach of undertakings. He was struck off the Register of Foreign Lawyers and ordered to pay three quarters of costs (£19,673.47). Total costs schedule was £26,231.30.

Duties found breached:

• Honour professional undertakings
• No conflict between current clients

Mitigating factors:

• First Respondent: no previous disciplinary sanctions
• First Respondent: 16 personal/character references
• First Respondent: engaged actively with the SRA once aware of the intervention
• First Respondent: allegation proved was at the bottom end of the scale; limited means