Disciplinary Record - Mehran Chowdery

Decision - Employee-related decision

Outcome: Control of non-qualified staff (Section 43 / Section 99 order)

Outcome date: 16 November 2015

Published date: 5 April 2017

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Wimbledon Solicitors

Address(es): 191 Morton Road, South Wimbledon, London, SW19 1EE

Firm ID: 490744

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Mr Mehran Chowdery (who is not a solicitor) formerly employed by Wimbledon Solicitors at 191 Morton Road, South Wimbledon, London, SW19 1EE was found by an Adjudicator to have breached Principles 2, 4, 6 and 10 of the SRA Principles 2011, Rule 14.1 of the SRA Account Rules 2011 and rule 7.1 of the SRA Practice Framework Rules 2011. Mr Chowdery accepted payments from clients without the knowledge of his firm, failed to conduct client matters appropriately, and held himself out to be a solicitor to clients and to the court.

Mr Chowdery was summarily dismissed by Wimbledon Solicitors on 14 February 2014, and is currently not involved in a legal practice.

Mr Chowdery was made subject to an order pursuant to section 43(2) of the Solicitors Act 1974 (as amended) and was given a written rebuke and a financial penalty.

Order for publication

In the matter of Mr Mehran Chowdery, a person who is or was involved in legal practice but is not a solicitor.

Section 43 Solicitors Act 1974 (as amended)

The Facts

Mr Mehran Chowdery, a person who is not a solicitor, was employed as a paralegal by Wimbledon Solicitors in the firm's office at 191 Morton Road, South Wimbledon, London, SW19 1EE. During his employment with the firm he was found to have accepted payments from clients without the knowledge of his firm, failed to conduct client matters appropriately and held himself out to be a solicitor to clients and to the court.

Mr Chowdery's employment with Wimbledon Solicitors was terminated on 14 February 2014.

Finding

We find that Mr Mehran Chowdery is, or was, involved in a legal practice (as defined by section 43 (1A) of the Solicitors Act 1974) but is not a solicitor and has occasioned or been a party to, without the connivance of a solicitor, an act or default in relation to a legal practice which involved conduct on his part of such a nature that in the opinion of the Society it would be undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice in any of the ways set out in the order below.

Order

To make a section 43 (2) order that with effect from the date of the letter or email notifying Mr Mehran Chowdery of this decision:

1. no solicitor shall employ or remunerate him in connection with their practice as a solicitor;
2. no employee of a solicitor shall employ or remunerate him in connection with the solicitor's practice;
3. no recognised body shall employ or remunerate him;
4. no manager or employee of a recognised body shall employ or remunerate him in connection with the business of that body;
5. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit him to be a manager of the body; and
6. 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.