Solicitor’s practising certificate conditions lifted, with a £1,937 costs order to the SRA for regulatory expenses
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has ordered the removal of practising certificate conditions imposed on solicitor Zain Siddiqi, following a formal application, while directing him to pay costs of £1,937.
In a written Judgment, the tribunal granted Siddiqi’s application to remove the conditions that had been imposed on 23 May 2022. The decision brings those restrictions to an end, meaning they no longer apply to his practising certificate.
Practising certificate conditions are regulatory controls placed on solicitors where concerns arise about aspects of their practice. These measures can restrict the way a solicitor works, including requirements for supervision or limits on certain types of legal activity.
The tribunal confirmed that such conditions had been imposed on Siddiqi in May 2022. While the judgment does not detail the reasons for their original imposition, it establishes that they remained in force until this application for removal was made.
Siddiqi applied to the tribunal seeking the removal of those conditions. After considering the application, the tribunal ordered that it be granted. The effect of the ruling is that the conditions imposed in 2022 have been lifted in full, rather than varied or replaced.
The tribunal did not impose any further sanction and made no additional findings of misconduct as part of its decision. The outcome is confined to the removal of the existing conditions.
Alongside granting the application, the tribunal made a costs order against Siddiqi. It directed that he pay £1,937 to the Solicitors Regulation Authority in respect of the costs incurred in responding to the application.
Such orders are a routine feature of tribunal proceedings and reflect the expenses borne by the opposing party. In this case, the tribunal fixed the amount payable rather than leaving it to detailed assessment.
The ruling restores Siddiqi’s practising position without the conditions imposed in 2022, while concluding the proceedings with a costs order in favour of the regulator.
As with other decisions of the tribunal, the ruling has been published as part of its ongoing work in overseeing professional standards in the legal sector. It may be subject to appeal in accordance with established procedures.