Hossein Gharaie

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

Hossein Gharaie, a solicitor admitted in 2000 practising as Jones Gray & Co, faced 15 allegations including failing to pay professional agents, breaching practising certificate conditions, practising uncertificated and without indemnity insurance, accounts rules breaches, acting against a lender's instructions in his own re-mortgage, and repeatedly failing to cooperate with the SRA. He did not appear. The Tribunal found all allegations substantiated. Noting these largely repeated misconduct substantiated in 2007 (for which he had been fined £12,000 with a warning), and finding a complete disregard for regulatory requirements, the Tribunal struck him off the Roll and ordered costs of £17,106.08, plus payments totalling £1,590 to a client. No express finding of dishonesty was made.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Comply with and respect court orders
• Complaints procedure and handling
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Prompt accounting and return of money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Professional indemnity insurance
• Hold a current practising certificate

Aggravating factors:

• Repeat misconduct largely mirroring allegations substantiated in 2007
• Prior warning from Tribunal that leniency would not be repeated
• Complete disregard for regulatory requirements and failure to cooperate with regulator
• Acting on his own behalf in a conveyancing transaction in direct contravention of lender's instructions
• Practised while suspended following intervention

Mitigating factors:

• Attempted to comply with practising certificate conditions but failed
• Difficulties putting indemnity insurance in place (partly due to insurers' delay)