London solicitor remains under SRA restrictions, barred from managing or owning a law firm
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has renewed restrictions on London solicitor Malik Mohammed Saleem, preventing him from managing, owning, or holding compliance roles within any authorised law firm.
According to the decision published on 7 October 2025, the SRA has placed conditions on Mr Saleem’s 2024/2025 practising certificate, citing the public interest as the basis for its decision. The move marks the third consecutive year in which the regulator has imposed similar controls on his professional practice.
Mr Saleem, whose firm Malik and Malik Ltd operates from 234–236 High Road, London NW10 2NX, is permitted to continue working as a solicitor, but only as an employee in a role that has first been approved by the SRA. The decision also bars him from acting as a manager, owner, compliance officer for legal practice (COLP), or compliance officer for finance and administration (COFA) for any authorised body.
The regulator stated that the conditions were “necessary in the public interest” and described them as “reasonable and proportionate,” having regard to the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations and the Legal Services Act 2007.
The latest decision mirrors earlier restrictions applied to Mr Saleem in April 2024 and April 2023. In each case, the SRA imposed identical conditions, preventing him from managing or owning a firm, or taking on compliance officer roles. Those conditions were published on 28 May 2024 and 19 June 2023, respectively.
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The SRA’s repeated intervention indicates continued regulatory oversight of Malik & Malik Ltd. While the decisions do not specify any new allegations or findings of misconduct, they reaffirm the regulator’s view that controls remain necessary to protect clients and uphold confidence in the legal profession.
The SRA Regulatory and Disciplinary Procedure Rules allow the authority to impose conditions on a solicitor’s practising certificate at any stage, pending or following the outcome of a regulatory review. Such measures are typically used to manage risk where concerns have been identified about a solicitor’s role, conduct, or the governance of their practice.
Under the current conditions, Mr Saleem must obtain SRA approval before taking any new employment within a regulated firm. The restrictions will remain in place for the duration of the 2024/2025 practising year unless reviewed or varied by the regulator.
Malik and Malik Ltd, which remains an authorised firm under the SRA ID 567666, continues to operate from its Willesden-based offices. The firm has previously appeared in SRA regulatory notices but remains authorised to practise law.
In its reasoning, the SRA said the restrictions align with its statutory duty under section 28 of the Legal Services Act 2007, which outlines the regulatory objectives of protecting consumers, maintaining professional standards, and promoting public confidence in legal services.
The regulator added that the conditions were both “reasonable and proportionate,” reflecting the balance between allowing Mr Saleem to continue practising as a solicitor and ensuring adequate safeguards are in place regarding his managerial or compliance functions.
The decision forms part of the SRA’s broader approach to risk management within authorised firms, which includes placing targeted restrictions on individuals where it deems that public confidence or consumer protection could be affected.
The renewed conditions mean that Mr Saleem, while able to continue practising as an employee, will remain under close regulatory scrutiny for a third year running.