Shahzad Mohammad Akhtar Chaudhry

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

Solicitor Shahzad Mohammad Akhtar Chaudhry, a partner at GMG Law LLP, was secretly recorded by News of the World reporters on 1 June 2006. He advised a posing 'client' to fabricate an asylum account of spousal abuse, dictated a false version of events, suggested altering dates and inventing police involvement and rape, and confirmed the matter could be funded by legal aid despite knowing the factual basis was fabricated. He admitted all four allegations shortly before the hearing. His medical mitigation (labyrinthitis, depressive symptoms) was rejected by the Tribunal as insufficient to render his conduct out of character or to show he could not follow the conversation. The Tribunal found conscious impropriety intending to mislead the immigration authorities and the Legal Services Commission and struck him off the Roll, ordering costs of £5,200.

Duties found breached:

• Full disclosure on ex parte applications
• Proper basis for allegations
• Not mislead third parties or opponents

Aggravating factors:

• Conscious impropriety intended to mislead the immigration authorities and the Legal Services Commission
• Conduct fundamental to the integrity and reputation of the profession
• Allegations admitted only a short time before the hearing
• Conduct brought into the public domain via a newspaper story

Mitigating factors:

• Impressive character references
• Claimed ill health (labyrinthitis and depressive symptoms) at the relevant time
• Took no fees for the interview
• Expressed remorse and shame
• Had not practised as a solicitor for two and a half years