Zahid Khan

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

Zahid Khan, sole owner and compliance officer of Janson Solicitors, misused and/or failed to protect client money, resulting in a client account shortfall of at least £594,717, with the Compensation Fund paying out over £590,000 to former clients. He used one client's money for other clients' transactions and transferred client money to a personal account for onward transmission to an online financial trading/spread betting platform (IG.COM). He also failed to cooperate with the SRA's investigation. The Tribunal found dishonesty proved under the Ivey test. The Respondent did not attend or engage with proceedings, which proceeded in his absence. Finding no exceptional circumstances per Sharma, the Tribunal ordered strike off and costs of £35,469.10.

Duties found breached:

• Act in the client's best interests
• Cooperate openly with regulators
• Firm governance, systems and compliance
• Integrity
• No improper use of client money
• Segregate client money
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonest conduct
• Vulnerability of residential conveyancing clients
• Repeated conduct extended over time
• Respondent knew misusing client funds breached his obligations
• Planned conduct involving multiple accounts and transfers
• High degree of culpability as experienced solicitor and sole owner/COLP/COFA/MLRO

Mitigating factors:

• No prior disciplinary findings since admission in 2006
• Limited cooperation in acknowledging the client shortfall and inability to remedy it
• Unevidenced references to personal, health and financial pressures