Alvina Zia

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

Alvina Zia, a solicitor admitted in 2001, faced eight allegations arising from the collapse of her firms Obelisk Law and Primax Law and later unauthorised immigration work. The Tribunal found her dishonest in providing inaccurate and misleading information to the SRA in response to production notices (Allegation 1) and to the Insolvency Service regarding her involvement with related companies (Allegation 5). She also breached various Principles, Outcomes and Rules by transferring 293 client files without consent, failing to cooperate with the SRA, improperly holding £23,702.37 of office money in client account, providing immigration advice while unauthorised, and failing to cooperate with and comply with a Legal Ombudsman decision. The Tribunal did not find dishonesty proved for Allegation 2, and did not find Allegations 3.2 and 5.2 proved. Finding no exceptional circumstances, the Tribunal struck her off the Roll and ordered her to pay costs reduced to £48,000.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• Honesty
• Integrity
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Cooperate openly with regulators
• Not misrepresent regulated status

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty proved
• Conduct was deliberate and calculated
• Concealed matters by lying to the regulator and others
• Misconduct took place over a protracted period
• Financial motivation
• Abuse of trust placed by Client B
• Harm assessed as very high

Mitigating factors:

• No previous disciplinary findings / hitherto unblemished career
• Made admissions, albeit at a late stage
• Personal difficulties including marital problems and health issues (stress and anxiety) at the relevant time