A paralegal who pretended to be a solicitor to clients and the court will not be allowed to work in the legal profession without the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s permission.

A decision notice published on the regulator’s website yesterday states that Mehran Chowdery, who worked at London firm Wimbledon Solicitors, was ’found to have accepted payments from clients without the knowledge of his firm, failed to conduct client matters appropriately, and held himself out to be a solicitor to clients and to the court’.

Chowdery was summarily dismissed by the firm on 14 February 2014. He is not currently involved in a legal practice.

The regulator said Chowdery had breached the SRA Principles 2011, SRA Accounts Rules 2011 and SRA Practice Framework Rules 2011. 

As well as a section 43 order, which is imposed on non-solicitors, Chowdery received a written rebuke and financial penalty.

In a statement to the Gazette, Wimbledon Solicitors said: ’Having informed the SRA and police, we are grateful for the intervention from the SRA and are pleased with the outcome, which will be a lesson for any future perpetrators of similar nature who misrepresent themselves for financial gain.

’During the short period of his employ with the firm, the firm suffered great financial losses and for about a year after his dismissal the firm had to undertake pro bono work to rectify his misdoings.

’Furthermore, the firm became a target of individuals who had been deprived of proper legal representation by Mehran Chowdery which led to the firm’s reputation being tarnished for a short period of time.

’Finally we would like to thank the SRA for taking the matter seriously and taking the appropriate action to continue to uphold the integrity of the profession.’