Noemaan Farooq Butt

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

Noemaan Farooq Butt, a sole practitioner solicitor, was found guilty of professional misconduct in cumulo for repeated breaches of the Accounts Rules, including drawing/misappropriating client account funds (approx £101,000 paid to a third party, Mr C), falsifying bank records and issuing false and misleading accounts certificates to conceal deficits, and failing to supervise an employee paralegal (Mr A) whose practising certificate was restricted. The Tribunal made an express finding of significant dishonesty, including the Respondent's admitted deliberate cover-up of a conveyancing error. His claim that payments were made under extortion/coercion was not accepted as a defence and given little weight given his lack of credibility. The Tribunal ordered his name struck off the Roll and found him liable for expenses (to be taxed). A secondary complainer's compensation claim was continued to a further hearing.

Duties found breached:

• Cease acting on client perjury or disobedience
• No improper use of client money
• Supervise staff and delegated work

Aggravating factors:

• Conduct involved significant dishonesty including deliberate falsification of bank statements and accounting certificates
• Misappropriation of client funds totalling approximately £101,000 paid to a third party (Mr C)
• Conduct persisted over a long period of time
• Respondent showed little remorse or insight and was found a danger to the public
• Deliberately covered up a negligent conveyancing error rather than rectifying it
• Respondent found to be a wholly unreliable and incredible witness with many contradictions

Mitigating factors:

• No prior disciplinary record
• Not in practice since March 2011 (four years)
• Alleged coercion/extortion by Mr C put forward (though not accepted as a defence and given little weight)
• Admitted the majority of averments of fact and misconduct