Ahmed Ajina

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

Ahmed Ajina, a solicitor and partner at Seddons Law LLP acting on immigration matters, was found to have provided misleading statements to clients and his firm between December 2019 and March 2021 about the progress of immigration applications (Clients A and B), and in around May 2020 to have altered an agreement to facilitate misleading information being provided to the Home Office (Client C). He self-reported to his supervising partner in March 2021 and made admissions to the SRA. He did not attend the hearing and an adjournment application (citing ill-health during Ramadan, unsupported by compliant medical evidence) was refused; the matter proceeded in his absence. All allegations were found proved. The Tribunal applied Ivey v Genting and made express findings of dishonesty on both allegations. He was struck off the Roll of Solicitors.

Duties found breached:

• Act in the client's best interests
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues
• Honesty
• Integrity
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Conduct was deliberate and repeated over a period of more than sixteen months
• Concealment of rejected application from both client and managing partner
• Instructed a junior colleague to mislead a client
• Facilitated creation of a false document submitted to the Home Office
• Conduct involved dishonesty

Mitigating factors:

• Self-reported his conduct to his supervising partner
• Made admissions during the SRA investigation
• No previous disciplinary findings