4 November 2016
Barrister Tariq Rehman was suspended for a total of 14 months by an independent disciplinary Tribunal at a hearing on Wednesday, 2 November, following charges brought by the Bar regulator.
He was also prohibited from accepting public access instructions directly from lay clients for three years.
The Tribunal's decision follows Mr Rehman's delay in paying refunds or compensation directed by the Legal Ombudsman to a number of his chambers' public access clients after they had received a poor standard of service. Mr Rehman was Head of Chambers at Kings Court Chambers.
BSB Director of Professional Conduct Sara Jagger said: "Barristers, and in particular Heads of Chambers, have a duty to cooperate with the Legal Ombudsman scheme and make sure that their practices are managed competently and efficiently. Mr Rehman's failure to pay refunds and compensation in a timely manner, and in at least one case, not at all, is a breach of this duty."
The suspension from practice and prohibition from accepting public access instructions is to take place with immediate effect.
The Tribunal's decision is open to appeal.
ENDS
Notes to editors
About Tariq Rehman
Mr Rehman was Called to the Bar by Lincoln's Inn in March 2000.
About disciplinary tribunals
The appointment, operation, and decisions (including sentencing) of disciplinary tribunal panels are performed by the Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service (BTAS). BTAS is run independently of the Bar Standards Board, the barristers' regulator, which is responsible for bringing charges of professional misconduct against barristers. These charges are then adjudicated on by BTAS' tribunal panels.
About the Bar Standards Board
Our mission is to regulate barristers and their professional practice and specialised legal services businesses in England and Wales in the public interest. For more information about what we do visit: http://bit.ly/1gwui8t
Contact: For all media enquiries call: 0207 611 1452 or email[email protected].
