Solicitor struck off for misleading SRA
A solicitor has been struck off after he was found to have provided the Solicitors Regulation Authority with information he knew was misleading, the England-and-Wales Gazette reports.
Shezhad Ilyas, admitted in 2012, faced three allegations at the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, including that when representing a client in litigation arising from a road traffic accident, he failed to adequately comply with three court orders which led to wasted costs orders being made against the firm and the claim being struck out.
It was also alleged that in cross-examination during a hearing at Bradford County Court he provided answers which were misleading in that he omitted to disclose that his client was an employee at the firm and he and the client were co-directors of more than one company.
It was alleged also that he provided the SRA with inaccurate information in relation to his connection to the client.
'Manifest incompetence'
Ilyas, who at the time of the misconduct was the owner of Bradford-based firm Goldmark Legal Services Limited, admitted manifest incompetence in relation to the court orders.
He denied dishonesty or lack of integrity.
On the second day of the substantive hearing, the three-person panel found Ilyas admissions’ properly made in relation to the first allegation, including that his conduct was manifestly incompetent, England-and-Wales Gazette reports
It also found his conduct lacked integrity.