SDT imposed seven-year restrictions after findings involving client account shortages, misleading estate accounts and misuse of client money
A Birmingham solicitor has been fined £15,000 and barred from owning or managing a law firm, acting as a compliance officer or handling client money for seven years after admitting a series of regulatory breaches involving misleading estate accounts, client account shortages and misuse of client funds.
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) approved an agreed outcome in the case of Sarinjit Singh Bahia, who was the sole owner, director, Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP) and Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA) of Consilium Legal Limited until the firm’s intervention by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in July 2021.
The tribunal found that estate accounts prepared in relation to an estate matter contained misleading information, including statements that no fees had been charged when legal fees had in fact been billed. The tribunal also found that estate accounts created in 2020 had the potential to mislead by again stating that no fees had been charged despite previous bills having been issued.
Mr Bahia admitted retaining £27,698.10 of client money in his personal bank account, causing a corresponding shortage on the firm’s client account. He also admitted failing to account to trust beneficiaries for £15,000 in interest payments arising from a loan of trust monies and using those funds for other purposes.
In a separate client matter, the tribunal found that Mr Bahia misused £13,560 of client money that had been intended to meet a client’s Stamp Duty Land Tax liability. The payment to HMRC was delayed and was ultimately settled from the firm’s office account.
The case arose after the SRA received an anonymous report in January 2021 alleging misuse of client funds. A subsequent forensic investigation identified significant financial irregularities, unreliable accounting records, client account shortages and concerns relating to the administration of an estate. Investigators concluded that the firm’s accounting systems had not been properly maintained and that appropriate financial controls were lacking.
The tribunal noted that following a without-prejudice meeting in April 2026, the SRA reviewed the evidence and withdrew allegations of dishonesty, lack of integrity and certain associated regulatory breaches.
In its judgment, the tribunal said the misconduct was serious and not a matter for a reprimand. It highlighted the preparation of estate accounts containing misleading or omitted information, the client account shortfall, the failure to account for trust interest payments and the misuse of client money.
The tribunal also regarded Mr Bahia’s previous disciplinary history as a significant aggravating factor, noting that he had appeared before the tribunal on two earlier occasions, in 2007 and 2019. It concluded that a seven-year restriction order was sufficient to protect the public and maintain confidence in the profession.
As part of the order, Mr Bahia is prohibited for seven years from acting as a manager or owner of an authorised body, serving as a COLP or COFA, or holding, receiving or authorising the transfer of client money. He was also ordered to pay £20,000 in costs.