Non-practising solicitor faces SDT over failure to disclose regulatory details to Bar authorities
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has referred non-practising solicitor Dr Zeeshan Saqib Mian to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) following allegations that he failed to disclose regulatory information when seeking admission to the Bar. The decision, dated 11 May 2025 and published on 26 September 2025, confirms that the matter will now proceed to a hearing where the Tribunal will determine the outcome after reviewing all evidence.
According to the SRA, Dr Mian is alleged to have withheld relevant regulatory details from the Bar Standards Board (BSB) or from an Inn of Court during his application for admission to the Bar and subsequent call. The Tribunal, which operates independently of the SRA, has certified that there is a case to answer in relation to these allegations.
The case centres on the professional duty of solicitors and prospective barristers to be fully transparent with regulators when applying to enter or practise within the legal profession. Regulatory bodies including the SRA and the BSB emphasise disclosure obligations as a cornerstone of maintaining public trust in the integrity and honesty of legal practitioners. A failure to disclose information considered material to an admission or call process is treated as a serious regulatory matter.
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The SRA’s decision notice does not specify the exact nature of the information allegedly withheld by Dr Mian but makes clear that the allegations concern omissions at the point of his call to the Bar. By referring the matter to the SDT, the regulator has confirmed that in its view the threshold for prosecution has been met and that independent adjudication is now required.
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal will review the allegations in full, along with any evidence presented by both the SRA and Dr Mian. As is standard, the Tribunal has not yet made findings of fact, and the allegations remain unproven unless and until they are upheld at a hearing. Should the SDT ultimately find the allegations proved, potential sanctions could range from a financial penalty to suspension or striking off from the roll of solicitors, depending on the seriousness of the misconduct.
The case highlights the cross-regulatory responsibilities that can arise when a solicitor seeks to join another branch of the legal profession. Applicants to the Bar are required to disclose any disciplinary history, regulatory investigations, or outcomes that may be relevant to their suitability. The failure to disclose such matters may amount to a breach of professional principles, particularly those requiring honesty and integrity.
The published decision provides no additional detail regarding Dr Mian’s professional history, current occupation, or the circumstances leading up to the allegations. It simply confirms that he is a non-practising solicitor and that the issues in question arose in connection with his admission to the Bar.
The SRA has reiterated that its role is to protect the public and uphold the reputation of the profession by ensuring that allegations of potential misconduct are independently assessed. Interventions of this nature underline the importance of regulatory compliance at all stages of a lawyer’s career, including when transitioning between roles in different branches of the profession.
Dr Mian’s case will now proceed to a full hearing before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, where an outcome will be determined once both sides have presented their evidence. Until that process concludes, the allegations remain unproven.