SRA terminates solicitor’s suspension but imposes strict restrictions on future practice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has terminated the suspension of solicitor Mazhar Hussain Latif’s 2025/2026 practising certificate, while imposing a series of conditions restricting how he may practise in the future.
The decision, dated 22 May 2026 and published on 23 June 2026, follows the SRA’s intervention into Mr Latif’s practice at Vanstone Law Limited earlier this year.
According to the regulator, Mr Latif’s practising certificate was automatically suspended following the SRA’s intervention into his practice in February 2026. The intervention decision was dated 2 February 2026 and published on 4 February 2026.
In its latest decision, the SRA stated that it was satisfied that none of the statutory purposes set out in its regulations, nor the regulatory objectives contained in the Legal Services Act 2007, required it to refuse Mr Latif’s application to terminate the suspension of his practising certificate.
As a result, the suspension has been lifted. However, the SRA has attached several conditions to Mr Latif’s practising certificate.
Under those conditions, Mr Latif may practise only as an employee and only where the employment has received prior approval from the regulator. He cannot act as a manager or owner of an authorised legal practice, nor can he serve as a Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP) or Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA).
The restrictions also prevent him from holding or receiving client money. In addition, he cannot act as a signatory on client or office accounts, nor authorise transfers from those accounts.
The SRA said the conditions were necessary in the public interest and described them as reasonable and proportionate in light of its regulatory objectives and statutory duties.
The decision follows an earlier intervention into Mr Latif’s practice. That intervention, published on 4 February 2026, stated that the SRA had decided to intervene into his practice at Vanstone Law Limited.
In its published reasons, the regulator said there was reason to suspect dishonesty on Mr Latif’s part in connection with his practice as a solicitor. The SRA also stated that he had failed to comply with rules under the Solicitors Act 1974.
The intervention decision carried a closure outcome dated 2 February 2026, and the SRA appointed Sean Joyce of Stephensons LLP as the intervening agent.
While the suspension of Mr Latif’s practising certificate has now been terminated, the conditions imposed by the regulator remain in place and govern the terms under which he is permitted to practise as a solicitor.