SRA permits employment of a struck-off solicitor under closely monitored conditions
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has approved the employment of a struck-off solicitor under a strict set of conditions, allowing him to work in a limited capacity within a regulated law firm.
Minesh Ruparelia, who was removed from the roll of solicitors in January 2001, has been granted permission to work at A.P Berkeley Ltd under section 41 of the Solicitors Act 1974. The decision, originally made on 19 June 2023 and published on 30 March 2026, confirms that his role will be subject to close supervision and significant restrictions.
Under the terms of the approval, Mr. Ruparelia is prohibited from representing clients and may only act in a supporting role as a second chair. His work must be supervised by solicitor Ayesha Qureshi, and he is required to cease working immediately if she is unavailable. He cannot resume duties until supervision is reinstated.
The SRA has also restricted his access to financial and managerial responsibilities. He is not permitted to access or manage any office or client accounts, act as a signatory, or oversee accounting functions. In addition, he is barred from supervising other staff within the firm.
The conditions further require structured oversight of his work. Weekly appraisals must be conducted during the first 12 weeks of employment, followed by monthly reviews thereafter. Any proposed changes to his role or supervision arrangements must be reported to the SRA in advance and cannot take effect without prior approval.
The approval is tied specifically to his employment at A.P Berkeley Ltd and will lapse if his role with the firm ends. The SRA has also reserved the right to review the arrangement at its discretion.
This decision follows an earlier approval granted on 22 August 2022, which permitted the firm to employ Mr Ruparelia subject to notification requirements regarding any changes to his employment conditions. A subsequent application to vary supervision arrangements was approved with the additional safeguards now in place.
The SRA stated that the decision was made in accordance with its regulatory responsibilities and that it is satisfied the arrangement does not pose a risk to clients, the administration of justice, or public confidence in legal services.
Under section 41 of the Solicitors Act 1974, individuals who have been struck off cannot be employed in connection with legal practice without regulatory approval. The regime is designed to ensure that any such employment is carefully controlled and subject to appropriate safeguards.