Feisal Mohammed Raza Sheikh; Maxim Solicitors Limited

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

First Respondent (consultant solicitor) and Second Respondent (firm) resolved proceedings by agreed outcome. The First Respondent admitted allowing the firm's client account to be used as a banking facility and failing to return client money promptly (file FS19815, involving payments to settle finance on his own car purchased by a client company), breaching Rule 3.3 of the 2019 Accounts Rules and Principle 2. The Firm admitted the same banking facility breach plus failure to have client/matter risk assessments on five files under the MLRs 2017. Several allegations and aspects were withdrawn. The Tribunal assessed culpability as low for both and found no actual harm. Both were fined £5,000 (Level 1 fine band). First Respondent ordered to pay £2,500 costs; Second Respondent £3,000 costs. No dishonesty was alleged or found.

Duties found breached:

• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues
• No improper use of client money
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• Not misrepresent regulated status
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• First Respondent was an experienced solicitor (24 years PQE) who should have known his conduct was a material breach of obligation
• Breaches of basic yet fundamental rules of the profession
• First Respondent gave in to client requests for favours when aware that use of client account as a banking facility was impermissible

Mitigating factors:

• Full cooperation with the SRA throughout the investigation and proceedings
• Admissions made, avoiding a contested hearing
• No previous regulatory findings / unblemished records
• No dishonesty or lack of integrity alleged or found
• No actual harm caused; Firm assessed as low-risk entity in money laundering terms
• Conduct limited in time and brief duration; allegation 2.1 limited to one file
• Firm rectified failings by introducing client and matter risk assessment forms in 2020
• Conduct took place during Covid-19 lockdown (First Respondent)

⚠ figures not found verbatim in the source were dropped: ["unverified_fine_amount=10000", "unverified_costs_amount=5500"]