Anal Sheikh

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

Anal Sheikh, a sole practitioner solicitor, faced multiple allegations of breaching the Solicitors Accounts Rules, including round sum transfers totalling £475,125, persistent overcharging in probate matters, failing to account for interest, and improperly withdrawing £254,000 from client account minutes before an SRA intervention by having her secretary forge her signature, then moving the funds to her mother's account. The Tribunal found all allegations (except deferred allegations j and l) substantiated and made an express finding of dishonesty under the Twinsectra test, particularly regarding the GT probate overcharging and the £254,000 withdrawal. The Respondent largely failed to engage, cooperate, or provide explanations. She was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs subject to detailed assessment (estimated to exceed £240,000), with an interim payment of £100,000 within 28 days.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• No taking unfair advantage
• Keep client informed and respond promptly
• No improper use of client money
• Account for interest on client money

Aggravating factors:

• Persistent overcharging that was deliberate, having previously been told by her regulator that her costing method was inappropriate
• Conflict of interest as sole executor charging her own fees and refusal to have charges independently assessed
• Moving the £254,000 further away to her mother's account after learning of the intervention and after the bank asked for its return
• Instructing her secretary to forge her signature to deceive the bank
• Failure to provide any coherent explanation or cooperate with the Tribunal's orders
• Conduct that greatly increased and prolonged the proceedings and their cost
• Damaging her credibility by refusing to acknowledge obvious shortcomings and making unfounded allegations of bad faith against others

Mitigating factors:

• Work in probate matters was largely undertaken systematically and completed expeditiously
• In the matter of HS the co-executor expressed satisfaction and praise for her work
• The Respondent found the proceedings stressful and held a genuine belief she had done nothing wrong
• Amounts of interest not accounted for were relatively immaterial in the overall context