Shuaib Saeed

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

Shuaib Saeed, a solicitor-advocate employed by MK Law Solicitors, faced multiple allegations. Several allegations (1, 4.2, 5) were withdrawn due to a poorly drafted Rule 5 Statement, and allegations 4.1, 4.3 and 4.4 were found not proved. The Tribunal found allegation 2 proved: he repeatedly contacted a former client (Mr A) to retain his services after being told to stop, and offered money to induce him to drop a service complaint. Allegation 3 was proved: he prepared a fictitious settlement agreement referencing a non-existent victim 'JE' to obtain £3,800 for personal benefit, paid into an account that was not the Firm's. Allegation 6 was proved: he failed to cooperate with the SRA. Dishonesty was expressly found in relation to allegations 2 and 3 applying the Ivey test. The Tribunal, finding no exceptional circumstances, ordered the Respondent be struck off the Roll and pay costs of £10,000 (reduced from £20,620 claimed due to the defective Rule 5 Statement). The hearing proceeded in the Respondent's absence.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• Act in the client's best interests
• No improper use of client money
• Cooperate openly with regulators

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty alleged and proved
• Misconduct was deliberate, calculated and repeated over a period of time
• Breach of a position of trust; took clients' money not paid into Firm's account
• Clients (Mr A and LD) were in vulnerable circumstances; Mr A had mental health difficulties
• Respondent sought to conceal his wrongdoing and persuade client to withdraw complaint
• Significant impact on those affected; financial and reputational harm to the Firm
• Respondent knew or ought to have known conduct materially breached obligations

Mitigating factors:

• The Tribunal could not identify any mitigating factors