Liaqat Ali

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

The Respondent, not a solicitor, operated an immigration advice business and entered an arrangement with Churchill Solicitors to continue immigration work without OISC registration. The arrangement was a "shell" lacking proper supervision and safeguards; client fees were retained by the Respondent to pay salaries. Allegation (i) (involving dishonesty) was withdrawn by the Applicant, who decided not to pursue the dishonesty argument given the Respondent's acceptance that a s.43 order should be made. The Tribunal found allegation (ii) substantiated and made a s.43 order. No express finding of dishonesty was made against the Respondent. He was ordered to pay agreed costs of £3,500 plus VAT.

Duties found breached:

• Honour professional undertakings

Aggravating factors:

• He continued to deal with cases after being told he could no longer represent clients, leading to a criminal prosecution (guilty pleas, conditional discharge, £1,000 prosecution costs)
• The arrangement with Churchills was a device to avoid OISC registration

Mitigating factors:

• Respondent had never worked in a solicitors' practice before and his first experience was at a firm with wholesale disregard for professional responsibilities
• He worked without supervision and under a partner found to be dishonest and manipulative
• He cooperated and accepted that an order should be made
• He agreed to pay the costs