Disciplinary Record - Zahid Akhtar

Decision - Prosecution

Outcome: Referral to Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal

Outcome date: 4 July 2023

Published date: 28 January 2024

Firm details

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

Name: Zahid Akhtar

Address(es):

Firm ID: 813166

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Reasons/basis

Outcome of SDT Hearing

This notification relates to a Decision to prosecute before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. This is an independent Tribunal which reaches its own decision after considering all the evidence, including any evidence put forward by the Respondent. The Tribunal had certified that there was a case to answer.

The matter was heard on 26 and 28 November 2024 and 22 January 2025.

Mr. Akhtar was suspended from practice as a solicitor for the period of 12 months to commence on 22 January 2025.

The Tribunal also order that upon the expiry of the fixed term of suspension Mr Akhtar shall be subject to conditions imposed indefinitely by the Tribunal:

The Respondent may not:

1. Practise as a sole practitioner or sole manager or sole owner of an authorised or recognised body; or as a freelance solicitor; or as a solicitor in an unregulated organisation;
2. Be a partner or member of a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), Legal Disciplinary Practice (LDP) or Alternative Business Structure (ABS) or other authorised or recognised body;
3. Be a Head of Legal Practice/Compliance Officer for Legal Practice or a Head of Finance and Administration/Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration; 2.1.4 Hold client money;
4. Be a signatory on any client account;
5. Work as a solicitor other than in employment approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority Ltd.

The SDT judgment will be available at www.solicitorstribunal.org.uk