Mustafa
Barak
Solicitor
647028
Decision - Control of practice
Outcome: Condition
Outcome date: 22 February 2024
Published date: 28 March 2024
Firm details
Firm or organisation at date of publication and at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Saffron Solicitors Limited
Address(es): Castle Cavendish Works Dorking Road Nottingham NG7 5PN
Firm ID: 550401
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Mustafa Barak's practising certificate for 2023 / 2024 is subject to the following condition: 1) Mustafa Barak may not act as a COLP or a COFA for any authorised body. In this condition the terms are as defined in the SRA Glossary.
Reasons/basis
The above condition is 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: 12 April 2023
Published date: 17 May 2023
Firm details
Firm or organisation at date of publication and at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Saffron Solicitors Limited
Address(es): Castle Cavendish Works, Dorking Road, Nottingham, NG7 5PN, England
Firm ID: 550401
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Mustafa Barak’s practising certificate for 2022/2023 is subject to the following condition:
- Mr Barak may not act as a compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) or compliance officer for finance and administration (COFA) for any authorised body.
In this condition the terms are as defined in the SRA Glossary.
Reasons/basis
The above condition is 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 April 2022
Published date: 8 June 2022
Firm details
Firm or organisation at date of publication and at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: SAFFRON SOLICITORS LIMITED
Address(es): Castle Cavendish Works Dorking Road Nottingham NG7 5PN
Firm ID: 550401
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Mustafa Barak’s practising certificate for 2021/2022 is subject to the following condition:
- Mr Barak may not act as a compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) or compliance officer for finance and administration (COFA) for any authorised body.
In this condition the terms are as defined in the SRA Glossary.
Reasons/basis
The above condition is 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 - Fined
Outcome: Fine
Outcome date: 18 November 2021
Published date: 22 November 2021
Firm details
Firm or organisation at date of publication and at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Saffron Solicitors Limited
Address(es): Castle Cavendish Works, Dorking Road, Nottingham NG7 5PN
Firm ID: 550401
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Fine of £6,000 and SRA costs of £600
Reasons/basis
Mustafa Barak is the owner and manager of Saffron Solicitors Limited, which is a licensed body whose head office is at Castle Cavendish Works, Dorking Road, Nottingham NG7 5PN.
It was found that Mr Barak had failed to ensure:
- that client information was kept confidential when 242 wills and the names and addresses of over 11,000 clients were removed from the firm and not properly secured. In doing so he breached Principles 4, 6, and 10 of the 2011 Principles and failed to achieve Outcomes 4.1 and 7.5 of the 2011 SRA Code of Conduct.
- all the firm’s dealings with client money were appropriately recorded, and in failing to do so has breached Rule 29.2(a) of the 2011 Accounts Rules (pre 25 November 2019) and Rule 8.1(c) of the 2019 Accounts Rules (25 November 2019 onwards).
- that compliant client account reconciliations were undertaken, and had therefore breached Rule 29.12 of the 2011 Accounts Rules (pre 25 November 2019) and Rule 8.3 of the 2019 Accounts Rules (25 November 2019 onwards).
Rule 29.2 (a) Accounts Rules 2011: All client money must be appropriately recorded in a client cash account.
Rule 29.12 Accounts Rules 2011: You must, at least once every five weeks prepare a reconciliation statement.
Outcome 4.1 Code of Conduct 2011: You keep the affairs of clients confidential.
Outcome 7.5 Code of Conduct 2011: You comply with legislation applicable to your business.
Rule 8.1.(c) Accounts Rules 2019: You keep and maintain accurate, contemporaneous, and chronological records.
Rule 8.3 Accounts Rules 2019: You complete at least every five weeks, for all client accounts held or operated by you, a reconciliation.
Mr Barak was ordered to pay a financial penalty of £6,000 and the SRA's costs of £600 in investigating this matter.