Top solicitor is suspended after claims of ‘dishonesty’
AN award-winning solicitor has been suspended amid accusations he ‘acted dishonestly’.
Mohammed Asif Din, a partner at Dean Solicitors in Rochdale, Sovereign Solicitors in Bury and Shire Solicitors in Bradford, West Yorkshire, has been stripped of his practising certificate ‘with immediate effect’ following an investigation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
In a statement the SRA said: “The Solicitors Regulation Authority has intervened into the practices of Mohammed Asif Din.
“The grounds of intervention are reason to suspect dishonesty on the part of Mr Din. The practising certificate of Mr Din has been automatically suspended, so he cannot practice as a solicitor.
“Mr Din currently practises with Ismail Patel under the name Dean Solicitors Ltd, in partnership Shameem Ali-Iqbal under the name Sovereign Solicitors, and in partnership with Sarah KhanBashir under the name Shire Solicitors.
“These closures only relate to Mr Din and NOT Ismail Patel, Shameem Ali-Iqbal or Sarah Khan-Bashir.
“At this stage of the SRA’s work, no further details can be disclosed. It is only if disciplinary proceedings become necessary that any information is released into the public domain.”
When the SRA intervenes it takes control of a law firm’s funds and any documents it holds.
Last Thursday the shutters were down and men were seen removing boxes of files from the Drake Street offices of Dean Solicitors.
The SRA has the power to issue sanctions, fines of up to £2,000 and, if the matter if passed on to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, remove a solicitor from the roll permanently.
In 2007 Mr Din, of Bamford, Rochdale, won the entrepreneur excellence award in the Lloyds TSB Jewel Awards.
His profile on the Law Society website says he specialises in conveyancing, debt, employment, immigration, personal injury and litigation law.
Dean Solicitors were contacted for a comment.
Knowsley Street-based Sovereign Solicitors declined to comment.
A notice on the website of Shire Solicitors says: “On March 22 The Solicitors Regulation Authority intervened into the practice of Mohammed Asif Din based at Shire Solicitors.
“Mr Din currently practices in partnership with Sarah Khan-Bashir under the name Shire Solicitors.
“Please note that the intervention only relates to Mr Din at Shire Solicitors and NOT Sarah KhanBashir.
“All practice papers, files and monies held by Mohammed Asif Din at the date of intervention are now in possession of the Solicitors Regulation Authority.”
Mr Din’s clients are advised to contact John Owen at Gordons LLP on 01274 703901 or intervention@gordonsllp.com.