Former solicitor disbarred as barrister

An independent disciplinary tribunal has disbarred a former solicitor after charges of professional misconduct were brought by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).

Barrister Zeeshan Saqib Mian was disbarred by a tribunal on 16 June. The tribunal also directed Mian’s practising certificate be suspended pending the final determination of any appeal. He was ordered to pay the BSB £2,670 costs.

Mian was accused of 12 charges of professional misconduct; the tribunal decided he should be disbarred on all 12 charges. The tribunal found Mian made a number of false declarations in relation to his Call Declaration for the purpose of being called to the Bar.

These included a failure to disclose that he was the subject of a formal investigation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and that the SRA had imposed conditions on his practising certificate as a solicitor prior to and at the time of his call to the Bar.

A BSB spokesperson commented on the decision: “It is right that the public should have confidence that barristers act with honesty and integrity. Failing to be honest at the point of admission to the Bar clearly diminishes this and is a serious matter. The tribunal’s decision to disbar Mr Mian reflects the fact that these actions are not compatible with membership of the Bar.”

The tribunal’s decision is open to appeal.