Ulfat Kazmi

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

The Respondent, a non-solicitor legal assistant at Renaissance Solicitors, was found to have removed five cheques from the firm's client account cheque book during her notice period, written them payable to herself, and cashed them for a total of £6,400. Her explanation that her bank cards had been lost/stolen was inconsistent with the facts (she did not report the card missing until 27 February 2006, over a month after leaving the firm and after the last cheque was cashed). Proceeding in her absence, the Tribunal accepted the evidence of partner Mrs Nawaz that the handwriting on the cheques was the Respondent's and the signatures were forgeries. The Tribunal found the allegations substantiated, with the Applicant submitting the Twinsectra dishonesty test was met. It made a s.43 order restricting her employment by solicitors and ordered her to pay £3,500 costs (a partial order; £8,515.60 had been sought).

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money
• Honour professional undertakings

Aggravating factors:

• Misappropriation of £6,400 of client account money
• Forged partner signatures on cheques
• Cheques made payable to herself and cashed for her own use