Zahid Aziz Sheikh & Another

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

Two partners of Alo & Co Solicitors faced allegations arising from a raid on client account (over £4.3m passing through) and unfulfilled conveyancing undertakings. The Tribunal found the Second Respondent (Registered Foreign Lawyer) had misappropriated money, given false/misleading information and failed undertakings, expressly finding clear dishonesty; he was struck off the Register of Foreign Lawyers with costs of £19,673.47. The First Respondent (solicitor) was cleared of misappropriation and dishonesty, but found to have diminished public trust by failing to properly divest himself of the partnership/notify interested parties; he was fined £3,000 with costs of £6,557.83.

Duties found breached:

• Uphold public trust in the profession
• No improper use of client money
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report
• Honour professional undertakings

Aggravating factors:

• Substantial sums (millions) misappropriated from client account
• Deliberate false statements to SRA investigators during recorded telephone conversation
• Failure to cooperate with the SRA and non-attendance at hearing (Second Respondent)
• Breach of undertakings causing loss to clients/lenders

Mitigating factors:

• First Respondent: no previous disciplinary findings, positive character references, allegation proved was at the lower end of the scale, engaged with the SRA once aware of intervention