Sunil Singh
Chandi
Employee
664634
Decision - Employee-related decision
Outcome: Control of non-qualified staff (Section 43 / Section 99 order)
Outcome date: 28 November 2019
Published date: 29 November 2019
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Premier Solicitors LLP
Address(es): Premier House, Lurke Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 3HU
Firm ID: 443806
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
IN THE MATTER OF Sunil Chandi whose last known address was in Biddenham, Bedford.
A person who was involved in legal practice but is not a solicitor
SECTION 43 SOLICITORS ACT 1974 (AS AMENDED)
The Facts
Between May 2012 and 4 June 2019, Mr Chandi was employed by the recognised body, Premier Solicitors LLP. He worked in the firm's private client department and conducted primarily wills and probate matters. The firm dismissed him on 4 June 2019 for gross misconduct.
It was found that during his employment, Mr Chandi misused £1,978,129.53 of client money from which he personally received £1,655,465.21. It was found that Mr Chandi’s conduct was dishonest.
An order pursuant to section 43(2) of the Solicitors Act 1974 was made in relation to Mr Chandi and he was ordered to pay the SRA's costs of £600 in investigating this matter.
It is not known whether Mr Chandi is currently working at, or for, an SRA regulated practice.
FINDING
Mr Chandi, who is not a solicitor, 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 Chandi of this decision:
- no solicitor shall employ or remunerate him in connection with his/her practice as a solicitor;
- no employee of a solicitor shall employ or remunerate him in connection with the solicitor's practice;
- no recognised body shall employ or remunerate him;
- no manager or employee of a recognised body shall employ or remunerate him in connection with the business of that body;
- no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit him to be a manager of the body; and
- 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 a Society permission.