Afzal Rehman

Decision - Employee-related decision

Outcome: Control of non-qualified staff (Section 43 / Section 99 order)

Outcome date: 4 May 2022

Published date: 11 May 2022

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Farani Javid Taylor Solicitors LLP

Address(es): 1 Red Lion Court, London, EC4A 3EB

Firm ID: 520186

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

IN THE MATTER OF:

Afzal Ur Rehman of Hounslow, London.

A person who is or was involved in a legal practice but is not a solicitor.

THE FACTS

Mr Rehman was employed by Farani Javid Taylor LLP (now City Solicitors Limited) whose office is at 1 Red Lion Court, London EC4A 3EB from 1 April 2015 to 3 September 2018. He was employed as a marketing assistant and later held the role of business development manager.

It was found that during this time Mr Rehman allowed client money to be paid into his personal bank accounts when he knew that money should have been paid into Farani Javid Taylor LLP’s client account. He also took money from a client for legal services which were not undertaken.

It was found that Mr Rehman’s conduct was dishonest.

Mr Rehman was ordered to pay the SRA’s costs of £1,350 in investigating this matter.

FINDING

Mr Rehman, who is not a solicitor, is or was involved in a legal practice and has occasioned or been a party to an act or default which involved such conduct on his part that it is undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice in any of the ways described in the order below.

ORDER

To make an order pursuant to section 43 that with effect from the date of the letter or email notifying Mr Rehman of this decision:

1. no solicitor shall employ or remunerate him in connection with his/her practice as a solicitor;
2. no employee of a solicitor shall employ or remunerate him in connection with the solicitor's practice;
3. no recognised body shall employ or remunerate him;
4. no manager or employee of a recognised body shall employ or remunerate him in connection with the business of that body;
5. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit him to be a manager of the body; and
6. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit him to have an interest in the body

except in accordance with the SRA’s prior written permission.