Barrister Zaheer Ahmad was ordered to be suspended from practice for six months by an independent disciplinary tribunal which concluded on 4 April 2024 following findings of professional misconduct in relation to charges brought by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).
The tribunal found that Mr Ahmad behaved in a way which is likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public places in him or in the profession and which could reasonably be seen by the public to undermine his integrity in failing to comply with a court order, made by Wandsworth County Court on 22 October 2015 which ordered that he pay the sum of £54,595.39 plus £9,416.50 in costs to a third party by 5 November 2015. The Tribunal unanimously decided that the breaches were so serious that a period of suspension was the only appropriate outcome.
Commenting on the order, a BSB spokesperson said: “The public should be able to expect barristers to comply with court orders. Given the sums involved and the length of time, the Tribunal saw Mr Ahmad’s failure to comply with a court order as a serious matter and their decision to suspend him from practice reflects this.”
The tribunal’s decision is open to appeal.
ENDS
Notes to editors
About Zaheer Ahmed
Mr Zaheer Ahmad was called to the Bar of England and Wales by Lincoln’s Inn in October 2011.
About disciplinary tribunals
The Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service (BTAS) is responsible for appointing and administering Disciplinary Tribunals on behalf of the President of the Council of the Inns of Court and its tribunals are independent of the BSB. The BSB is responsible for bringing charges of professional misconduct against barristers, which BTAS tribunal panels then adjudicate. The sanctions imposed are a matter for the tribunal having regard to the facts of the individual case and the BTAS Sanctions Guidance.
About the Bar Standards Board
Our mission is to regulate barristers 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: 07432 713 328 or email [email protected].
