Solicitor referred to disciplinary tribunal over allegations involving client fee payments
A solicitor has been referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal following a decision by the regulator to pursue prosecution over alleged misconduct relating to client payments.
Mandeep Thandi, a solicitor admitted under roll number 502157, is the subject of a prosecution decision dated 21 February 2025. The outcome, published on 28 January 2026, confirms that the case has been referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
According to the regulator’s decision, the referral follows concerns arising from Mr Thandi’s conduct while he was practising as a solicitor at Kenneth M Barrow & Co Limited, a firm based in Seaham, County Durham. The matters giving rise to the referral relate to events alleged to have occurred between November 2023 and February 2024.
The allegations state that, during this period, Mr Thandi is said to have received payments directly from a client into his personal bank account. These payments were allegedly intended to be a settlement of the firm’s professional fees, rather than payments due to him personally.
The decision to prosecute was taken by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and resulted in the matter being placed before the independent tribunal. The regulator has confirmed that the tribunal has certified there is a case to answer in respect of the allegations.
The outcome notice makes clear that the allegations have not been proven. The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal will consider all the evidence in due course, including any evidence or representations put forward by Mr Thandi, before reaching its own determination.
At the time of the matters giving rise to the referral, Mr Thandi was practising at Kenneth M Barrow & Co Limited, which is registered under firm ID 625939 and is located at 15–16 Adelaide Row, Seaham, County Durham. The firm details are provided for contextual purposes and no findings have been made against the firm in this notification.
Disciplinary proceedings before the tribunal are conducted independently of the regulator. The tribunal has the power to determine whether the allegations are proven and, if so, what sanction, if any, should be imposed.
The regulator’s notice emphasizes that referral to the tribunal does not amount to a finding of misconduct. The case will proceed to a hearing, where the allegations will be examined in full before any conclusions are reached.