Disciplinary Record - Saisha Zaheer

Decision - Employee-related decision

Outcome: Approval of employment (section 43)

Outcome date: 13 November 2023

Published date: 23 January 2024

Firm details

Firm or organisation at date of publication

Name: The National Law Firm

Address(es): Merchants Court, 2-12 Lord Street, Liverpool L2 1TS

Firm ID: 8000097

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

The National Law Firm Limited have been granted permission under section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974 to employ Saisha Zaheer, subject to the following conditions:

1. Ms Zaheer's employment at the firm is limited to that described in the firm's application of 14 July 2023 and supplementary emails of 3 and 8 November 2023.
2. Ms Zaheer's supervision is as per the details provided to us in the firm's application of 14 July 2023 and supplementary emails of 3 and 8 November 2023. This includes her work being directly supervised by Junaid Rehman and, in Mr Rehman's absence, by Amanda Sheppard.
3. Ms Zaheer does not have access to any office or client account, is not a signatory to any office or client account and does not have any responsibility for the firm's accounting functions.
4. Ms Zaheer will not be responsible for supervising any other member of staff.
5. Ms Zaheer does not have direct contact with clients, save for in the capacity, and with the supervisory measures, outlined in the firm's emails of 3 and 8 November 2023.
6. Any proposed variation to Ms Zaheer's job description, duties, or arrangements as to her supervision are notified to the SRA in advance of the change taking place and that the variation must not take place until permission is granted by the SRA.
7. This approval will lapse if Ms Zaheer's employment with the firm is terminated. (viii) This approval and the conditions attached to it are subject to review at the discretion of the SRA.

Reasons/basis

Saisha Zaheer was made subject to an order under section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974 on 28 June 2019. In accordance with section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974, any solicitor wishing to employ or remunerate her in connection with their practise as a solicitor must obtain our approval. The SRA is satisfied that the above employment will not put public confidence in the administration of justice and the provision of legal services or the interests of clients at risk.

Decision - Employee-related decision

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

Outcome date: 28 June 2019

Published date: 1 November 2019

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Arrans Solicitors Limited (closed October 2018)

Address(es): 2nd Floor, 6 Waterhouse Street, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX1 1UQ

Firm ID: 590692

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

IN THE MATTER OF:

Saisha Zaheer, a person who is or was involved in legal practice but is not a solicitor is now subject to section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974 (as amended)

Saisha Zaheer, a paralegal between March 2014 and February 2018, worked at Arrans Solicitors Limited, formerly at 6 Waterhouse Street, Halifax.

Between December 2017 and February 2018, Miss Zaheer acted in two conveyancing transactions which bore the hallmarks of fraud, and, on 23 July 2018, she provided false information to an SRA forensic investigation officer. Her conduct was found to be dishonest.

FINDING

Saisha Zaheer, who is or was involved in a legal practice (as defined by section 43(1A) of the Solicitors Act 1974) but is not a solicitor, has occasioned or been a party to, with or without the connivance of a solicitor, an act or default in relation to a legal practice which involved conduct on her part of such a nature that in the opinion of the Society it would be undesirable for her to be involved in a legal practice in all of the ways set out in the order below.

ORDER

To make a section 43 order that with effect from the date of the letter or email notifying Saisha Zaheer of this decision:

1. no solicitor shall employ or remunerate her in connection with his/her practice as a solicitor;
2. no employee of a solicitor shall employ or remunerate her in connection with the solicitor’s practice;
3. no recognised body shall employ or remunerate her;
4. no manager or employee of a recognised body shall employ or remunerate her in connection with the business of that body;
5. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit her to be a manager of the body; and
6. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit her to have an interest in the body

except in accordance with a Society permission.