A record of played two, lost two would normally be a cause for some introspection. But not for the Solicitors Regulation Authority, it would seem. The chief executive’s update in last week’s board papers matter-of-factly reported that two cases brought against solicitors targeted by the Daily Mail’s immigration sting had resulted in defeats (exoneration).

The report did not dwell on how Rashid Khan, whose firm was shut down by the SRA, had his career ruined by the decision to prosecute. His lawyer Gregory Treverton-Jones KC described the case against him as ‘threadbare’; his client had incurred irrecoverable legal fees of £100,000; and Khan’s office windows were smashed.

Might the SRA have been too willing to bow to political pressure to go after the lawyers accused by the Mail (and falsely, so far)?

Chief executive Paul Philip would have none of it, telling Monday’s press briefing: ‘We are very clear that [the failed cases] passed the appropriate threshold of being arguable – it was a public interest matter that needed to be ventilated in front of the tribunal.’

The issue is set for further ‘ventilation’ next year: a third case against a Mail sting solicitor is scheduled to be heard in January.

Topics