Waheed Mian

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

Mr Mian, a barrister (unregistered, never held a practising certificate) also dually qualified as a solicitor, admitted four charges of professional misconduct under Core Duty 5 (and/or rC8) arising from his role as principal solicitor at M-R Solicitors LLP in an off-plan property development investment scheme (Aronex Developments). He failed to disclose conflicts of interest, failed to advise clients of investment and planning risks, and failed to supervise a trainee solicitor. Aronex went into liquidation and clients lost money (largely covered by insurance). The SDT had already suspended him from the Roll for six months. The BSB expressly did not allege dishonesty or lack of integrity. The Tribunal found significant culpability and moderate/significant harm, and imposed a nine-month prohibition on obtaining a practising certificate (concurrent), reduced from an indicative 12 months given totality and prior SDT sanction, plus £4,980 costs.

Duties found breached:

• No conflict between current clients
• Supervise staff and delegated work

Aggravating factors:

• Failure to grasp the seriousness and how clients suffered; lack of remorse
• Appeared more concerned with damage to own reputation than damage to reputation of profession

Mitigating factors:

• Previous good disciplinary record (prior 2000 matter given little weight)
• Matters at least six years old with no complaints since
• Already sanctioned by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal for same matters (totality/proportionality)