SRA’s decision restricts the solicitor from holding compliance or head of legal roles
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has imposed a practising condition on solicitor Shameem Ali-Iqbal for the 2024/2025 practising year.
According to the SRA’s published decision, Ms Ali-Iqbal’s practising certificate is subject to a restriction preventing her from holding certain compliance and management positions within authorised legal practices.
At the time of the matters giving rise to the outcome, Ms Ali-Iqbal was with Sovereign Solicitors, located at 35 Knowsley Street, Bury, BL9 0ST (Firm ID: 463100).
At the date of publication, she was with Cooper Solicitors, based at Millennium House, 286 Yorkshire Street, Rochdale, OL16 2DR (Firm ID: 622651).
The SRA’s decision, dated 1 September 2025 and published on 28 October 2025, specifies the following condition:
- Ms Ali-Iqbal may not act as a compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) or compliance officer for finance and administration (COFA) for any authorised body, or as a Head of Legal Practice (HOLP) or Head of Finance and Administration (HOFA) for an authorised non-SRA firm.
The regulator stated that, in this condition, the terms are as defined in the SRA Glossary.
According to the SRA, the condition was imposed because it was “necessary in the public interest” and considered “reasonable and proportionate” in accordance with Regulation 7 of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations.
The decision also refers to the regulatory objectives and principles governing regulatory activity under section 28 of the Legal Services Act 2007.
The outcome was reached by the SRA’s decision.