Rehana Saeed

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

Solicitor Rehana Saeed admitted failing to scrutinise third party source of funds in two conveyancing transactions (breaching AML/MLR requirements and Principles 6,7,8) and admitted failing to update/misleading lenders (Principle 6). The Tribunal rejected lack of integrity (Principle 2) findings on allegations 1.3 and 1.4, accepting these were inadvertent errors, but found a lack of integrity (Principle 2) and breaches of Outcomes 10.1 and 10.2 on allegation 1.5, where she knowingly failed to inform the lender after receiving an Authority Letter showing third party funding. No dishonesty was alleged or found. She was fined £7,500 and ordered to pay £12,000 costs (reduced from £34,905 claimed).

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money
• Not mislead third parties or opponents

Aggravating factors:

• Misconduct was repeated across two transactions
• Prior Regulatory Settlement Agreement (2016) and conditions on practising certificate should have heightened diligence
• Material breach of obligation to protect public and reputation of profession

Mitigating factors:

• Demonstrated insight and remorse
• Made significant admissions from the outset
• Cooperated fully with the investigation
• Self-reported concerns to the SRA
• Undertook relevant training and introduced compliance procedures at the Firm
• Inexperienced in this type of conveyancing and AML responsibilities
• Limited means
• Unblemished conduct since