Michelle Niaz suspended and barred from sole practice after agreed outcome
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has suspended Michelle Niaz for nine months after she admitted practising without authorisation and holding client money when not entitled to do so.
In a judgment dated 6 February 2026, the Tribunal approved an agreed outcome between Ms Niaz and the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The matter was determined on the papers on 22 January 2026 without a hearing.
Ms. Niaz, who was admitted to the Roll in December 2015, had been a partner at Lewis Mitchell Solicitors Inc, Ruth Moores. She became the firm’s Compliance Officer for Legal Practice and Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration in 2016 and 201,7 respectively.
The Tribunal found that between 18 January 2020 and 1 September 2023, she practised as a sole practitioner without authorisation after her business partner left and the firm lost its authorisation. During the same period, she held client money while not working within an authorised body.
In addition, between June 2016 and 1 September 2023, she failed to maintain proper accounting records. The breaches included failing to carry out reconciliations every five weeks and failing to obtain the accountant’s reports as required. These failures engaged both the Solicitors Accounts Rules 2011 and the SRA Accounts Rules 2019, depending on the period in question.
Ms. Niaz admitted all allegations, save for recklessness. The SRA withdrew that aspect of its case, and the Tribunal granted permission for it to do so.
In assessing the sanction, the Tribunal found that Ms. Niaz had direct control and responsibility for the misconduct. As both COLP and COFA, she held enhanced compliance obligations. The misconduct continued over a significant period and included a finding of lack of integrity. The Tribunal assessed her culpability as high and concluded that the clients had been placed at risk.
However, it also took into account her cooperation with the regulator and the personal mitigation advanced. The Tribunal determined that the protection of the public and the reputation of the profession did not require striking off.
Ms. Niaz was suspended from practice for nine months from 22 January 2026. Upon expiry of the suspension, she will be subject to indefinite conditions. She may not practise as a sole practitioner, partner or manager of an authorised body, act as COLP or COFA, hold client money, be a signatory on a client account, or work other than in SRA-approved employment.
The Tribunal also ordered her to pay costs of £22,140.