Ishtiaq Ahmed
Solicitor
033593

Decision - Prosecution

Outcome: Referral to Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal

Outcome date: 22 August 2023

Published date: 22 February 2024

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: AUUA Law

Address(es): 104 St Georges Road, Bolton BL1 2BZ

Firm ID: 618406

Firm or organisation at date of publication

Name: TMC Solicitors Ltd

Address(es): 4 Central Buildings, Kingsway, Manchester M19 1SP

Firm ID: 636580

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Reasons/basis

This notification relates to a Decision to prosecute before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. This is an independent Tribunal which will reach its own decision after considering all the evidence, including any evidence put forward by the Solicitor. The Tribunal has certified that there is a case to answer in respect of allegations which are or include that, while acting as a solicitor and as a sole practitioner and manager, owner, COLP and COFA of AUUA Law ('AUUA)', he:

1. On around 30 March 2021 and 11 May 2021, provided inaccurate and misleading information in relation to two applications for Professional Indemnity Insurance;

2. Between around 5 November 2020 and 27 May 2021, employed Mr Raja Shazad Khan (“the Second Respondent”), a solicitor whose Practising Certificate he knew to have been suspended, to act as a solicitor with AUUA;

3. Between around 28 May 2021 and 6 October 2021, knowing that the Second Respondent was subject to conditions of practice which prohibited him from acting as a signatory to any client or office account or having the power to authorise transfers from any client or office account, permitted the Second Respondent to:

3.1. be a signatory to AUUA's office and client accounts;

3.2. authorise transfers from AUUA's office and client account.

4. On or around 14 June 2021 and 17 June 2021, provided inaccurate or misleading information to the SRA in relation to (a) the Second Respondent's involvement with AUUA and / or (b) the bank accounts held by AUUA;

5. Between around 1 March 2021 and 31 May 2021, failed to ensure that the books of account for the Accrington Branch of AUUA complied with the SRA Accounts Rules.

The allegations are subject to a Hearing before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and are as yet unproven.