Asghar
Ali
Solicitor
225018
Decision - Control of practice
Outcome: Condition
Outcome date: 12 March 2023
Published date: 11 April 2023
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: AA Solicitors Ltd
Address(es): 195 St Helens Road BOLTON BL3 3PY
Firm ID: 573705
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
We publish regulatory decisions when we consider it to be in the public interest. I am satisfied that, in accordance with our guidance on publishing regulatory and disciplinary decisions, to maintain confidence in the regulatory system and to demonstrate transparency in our decision-making process, this decision should be published. I am satisfied that none of the factors that would make publication inappropriate apply.
Asghar Ali’s practising certificate for 2022 / 2023 is subject to the following conditions:
- Mr Ali may not act as a manager or owner of any authorised body or authorised non-SRA firm.
- Subject to the condition above, Mr Ali may act as a solicitor only as an employee within an authorised body, where the role has first been approved by us.
- Mr Ali may not act as a compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) or compliance officer for finance and administration (COFA) for any authorised body, or Head of Legal Practice (HOLP) or head of finance and administration (HOFA) in any authorised non-SRA firm.
- Mr Ali shall not provide legal services as a freelance solicitor offering reserved and unreserved services on his own account under regulations 10.2(a) or 10.2(b) of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations.
- Mr Ali does not hold, receive or have responsibility for any client money, or act as a signatory to any client or office account, or have the power to authorise electronic transfers from any client or office account.
In these conditions the terms are as defined in the SRA Glossary.
Reasons/basis
The above conditions are necessary in the public interest. They are reasonable and proportionate having regard to the purposes set out in regulation 7 of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations, and the regulatory objectives and principles governing regulatory activities as contained in section 28 of the Legal Services Act 2007.
Decision - Control of practice
Outcome: Condition
Outcome date: 28 February 2022
Published date: 11 May 2022
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: AA SOLICITORS LTD
Address(es): 195 St Helens Road, BOLTON, BL3 3PY, England
Firm ID: 573705
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Asghar Ali’s practising certificate for 2021/2022 is subject to the following conditions:
- Mr Ali may not act as a manager or owner of any authorised body or authorised non-SRA firm.
- Subject to the condition above, Mr Ali may act as a solicitor only as an employee within an authorised body, where the role has first been approved by us.
- Mr Ali may not act as a compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) or compliance officer for finance and administration (COFA) for any authorised body, or Head of Legal Practice (HOLP) or head of finance and administration (HOFA) in any authorised non-SRA firm.
- Mr Ali shall not provide legal services as a freelance solicitor offering reserved and unreserved services on you own account under regulations 10.2(a) or 10.2(b) of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations.
- Mr Ali does not hold, receive or have responsibility for any client money, or act as a signatory to any client or office account, or have the power to authorise electronic transfers from any client or office account.
In these conditions the definitions are as defined in the SRA Glossary.
Reasons/basis
The above conditions are necessary in the public interest and reasonable and proportionate having regard to the purposes set out in Regulation 7 of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations and the regulatory objectives and principles governing regulatory activities as contained in section 28 of the Legal Services Act 2007.
Decision - Sanction
Outcome: Rebuke
Outcome date: 12 August 2021
Published date: 16 September 2021
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: AA Solicitors Limited
Address(es): 195 St Helen’s Road, Bolton, BL3 3PY
Firm ID: 573705
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Mr Asghar Ali received a rebuke and was directed to pay costs of £600.
Reasons/basis
Mr Asghar Ali was the owner and manager of AA Solicitors Limited of 195 St Helen’s Road, Bolton BL3 3PY. The firm closed on 29 December 2020.
It was found that a minimum shortfall of £7,138.45 existed in the firm’s client account at 31 December 2019. Mr Ali did not remedy this shortfall promptly on discovery in breach of rule 6.1 Accounts Rules 2019 and Principles 4, 6 and 10 (2011) now Principles 2 and 7 (2019) and paragraph 4.2 of the Code of Conduct for Solicitors.
The firm’s books of account were unreliable; they were not properly maintained and did not comply with the rules. It was found that Mr Ali breached Principle 8 (2011), Rules 1.2(f) and 29.12 of the Accounts Rules 2011, Rules 8.1 and 8.3 of the Accounts Rules (2019) and paragraph 2.1 of the Code of Conduct for Firms (2019).