Disciplinary Record - Idnan Liaqat

Decision - Approval denied

Outcome: Refusal to grant PC/Registration

Outcome date: 10 January 2024

Published date: 13 February 2024

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Axiom Ince Limited

Address(es): 101 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1FA

Firm ID: 628201

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

The SRA has decided that it is in the public interest not to grant Mr Liaqat, who is a solicitor, a practising certificate for 2023/2024.

Reasons/basis

On 14 August 2023, the SRA intervened into Mr Liaqat's practice because there had been a failure by him to comply with rules made under sections 31 and 32 Solicitors Act (paragraph 1 (1) (c) of Schedule 1 Part I of the Solicitors Act 1974.

On 3 October 2023, the SRA intervened into Mr Liaqat's firm, Axiom Ince Limited (now in administration). It was on the ground that Mr Liaqat and two other named individuals who were former managers of the firm failed to comply with the SRA Accounts Rules (2019) and the Code of Conduct for Firms (2019). They are rules applicable to them as managers of the firm and the firm itself. In addition, Mr Liaqat and the other two named individuals failed to comply with the Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELS and RFLS, applicable to them as former managers of the firm at the time of the conduct.

Mr Liaqat's practising certificate for the year 2022/2023 was suspended because of the intervention into his practice in August 2023. Mr Liaqat applied to renew it with effect from 1 November 2023.

Without prejudice to any other matters or issues, Mr Liaqat's application for a practising certificate for the practice year 2023/2024 has been refused.

Mr Liaqat's conduct poses a risk to the public interest in particular (i) the reputation of the profession and (ii) the trust the public places in the provision of legal services.

This decision is made having regard to the regulatory objectives contained in the Legal Services Act 2007 and the regulatory arrangements of the SRA.

SRA Authorisation of Individual Regulations

Regulation 7

If the SRA considers it to be in the public interest to do so, it must:

• refuse your application for a practising certificate, or your application for registration or renewal of registration, in the register of European lawyers or the register of foreign lawyers.

Decision - Closure

Outcome: Intervention

Outcome date: 10 August 2023

Published date: 14 August 2023

Firm details

Firm or organisation at date of publication and at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Axiom Ince Ltd

Address(es): 1 Spring Villa Road, Edgware, HA8 7EB

Firm ID: 628201

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Intervention into the individual practice of Idnan Liaqat at Axiom Ince Ltd.

Reasons/basis

The Adjudicator was satisfied that grounds for intervention existed under Paragraph 1(1)(c) of Schedule 1 of the Solicitors Act 1974 (as amended) namely that Idnan Liaqat had failed to comply with the rules made under sections 31 and 32 of the Act.

Other information

We have not intervened into the firm Axiom Ince Limited, which continues to trade in the ordinary course of business.

Intervening agents

Victoria Davey of Gordons LLP, 1 New Augustus Street, Bradford, BD1 5LL has been appointed as the intervening agent.

For enquiries please call 0113 227 0394 or email intervention@gordonsllp.com