Femida Jamali

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

Femida Jamali, a solicitor employed at Slater and Gordon UK Ltd doing personal injury work, was found to have misled and failed to adequately advise clients across multiple files by not informing them that their claims had been struck out, falsely telling them claims were ongoing or adjourned, and claiming applications to reinstate had been made when they had not. The Tribunal found dishonesty proved on Allegations 1.1-1.4 (applying the Ivey test), finding she knowingly made untruthful statements to clients to cover up her own poor service. For Allegation 1.5 (a claim issued out of time before she took over), dishonesty and recklessness were not proved and the lack of integrity allegation failed, as the Tribunal could not be satisfied she knew the claim was statute barred. The hearing proceeded in her absence as she had voluntarily disengaged. Finding no exceptional circumstances (per James/Sharma), the Tribunal ordered she be struck off the Roll and pay costs of £36,000 (reduced from £42,750 due to the shorter hearing, delay, and partial non-proof of allegations).

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• Act in the client's best interests
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty
• Deliberate, calculated and repeated misconduct
• Continued over approximately 18 months across several client files
• Respondent knew she was in material breach of her obligations
• Motivation to cover up her own errors and poor service
• 8 years' experience at start of misconduct
• Direct control as fee earner with conduct of cases
• Harm caused to clients including at least one client who may have been able to reinstate claim

Mitigating factors:

• Previously unblemished career with no prior disciplinary findings
• No personal financial gain from actions