Muhammad Waseem Khan-Sherwani

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

Khan-Sherwani, an assistant solicitor at Lewis & Dick admitted in 1988, dishonestly misappropriated clients' money and used it for his own benefit in two conveyancing matters. He diverted £300,000 from Mr and Mrs O's purchase funds (recorded against a separate "Bowry Sherwani" ledger) to fund another property purchase and failed to pay promised 10% interest, and diverted £43,000 belonging to Mr S's children to AL Associates for his own property venture, leaving a shortage of £3,369.50. The partners replaced the misappropriated funds. Applying both the objective and subjective tests in Twinsectra v Yardley, the Tribunal found the Respondent had behaved dishonestly. Given this was his third appearance before the Tribunal, he was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay agreed costs of £6,279.18.

Duties found breached:

• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• No improper solicitation or touting

Aggravating factors:

• Third appearance before the Tribunal (prior findings in 1996 and 1997)
• Clients not paid the 10% interest they had been promised
• Use of clients' money for his own and a colleague's benefit
• No explanation offered for his activities at the time

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted the allegations and did not defend the proceedings
• Attended the hearing and addressed the Tribunal
• Expressed sincere regret
• Money was subsequently made available/returned
• Personal losses (job, wife, daughter, property)