Disciplinary Record - Sakib Raza

Decision - Employee-related decision

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

Outcome date: 9 November 2023

Published date: 14 November 2023

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Morr & Co LLP

Address(es): Prospero, 73 London Road, Redhill, RH1 1LQ

Firm ID: 440504

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Who does this decision relate to?

Sakib Raza whose last known address was in Reading, Berkshire.

A person who is or was involved in a legal practice but is not a solicitor.

Summary of decision

The SRA has put restrictions on where and how Mr Raza can work in an SRA regulated firm.

It was found that Mr Raza, who is not a solicitor, was involved in a legal practice and has been convicted of a criminal offence which is such that it is undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice in any of the ways described in the order below.

The facts of the case

Mr Raza was employed as a paralegal by Morr & Co LLP (the firm), a recognised body, in 2018/2019. He was then employed by Abrahams Dresden LLP between 4 November 2019 and 19 April 2021. He was initially employed as a paralegal and became a trainee solicitor on 21 December 2020. Mr Raza resigned on 19 April 2021.

On 17 September 2021, Mr Raza was convicted of one count of conspiracy to conceal criminal property, contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977.

The conviction was unrelated to his employment, although the conduct which led to Mr Raza’s conviction occurred when he was working for the firm.

The circumstances surrounding the conviction were that Mr Raza was asked to provide his personal bank account details and online banking access by another individual. Mr Raza agreed. This enabled money from criminal activity to be paid into his accounts. In return, Mr Raza received payment for allowing the use of his bank accounts.

On 30 November 2022, Mr Raza was sentenced to a community order for a period of 18 months. Mr Raza was to perform up to 200 hours of unpaid work and to undertake 20 days rehabilitation activity work.

Decision on outcome

An order pursuant to section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974 was imposed as Mr Raza has been convicted of a criminal offence which is such that it is undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice without the SRA’s prior approval.

This was because of the nature of his criminal conviction, and the likely damage to public confidence in the delivery of legal services. Mr Raza’s conduct which led to his criminal conviction indicated a lack of judgment. Mitigating factors were considered including Mr Raza’s youth, relative inexperience and expressions of insight and remorse. However, these factors did not overcome the risks presented to clients, client money, the public and the public’s trust in the provision of legal services.

Mr Raza was also ordered to pay the SRA’s costs of £600.

What our Section 43 order means

1. no solicitor shall employ or remunerate him in connection with his/her 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 the SRA’s prior written permission.