Michelle
Niaz
Solicitor
457893
Decision - Prosecution
Outcome: Referral to Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
Outcome date: 29 January 2025
Published date: 5 June 2025
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Lewis Mitchell Solicitors inc Ruth Moores & Co
Address(es): Primrose Dairy Railway View Road, Clitheroe BB7 2HE
Firm ID: 630158
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Reasons/basis
This notification relates to a Decision to prosecute before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. This is an independent Tribunal which will reach its own decision after considering all the evidence, including any evidence put forward by the Solicitor. The Tribunal has certified that there is a case to answer in respect of allegations which are or include that, while in practice as a solicitor at Lewis Mitchell Solicitors:-
- During the period between 18 January 2020 and 1 September 2023, she practised as a sole practitioner without authorisation.
- During the period between 18 January 2020 and 1 September 2023 held client monies when she was not working in an authorised body.
- During the period between June 2016 and 1 September 2023 failed to maintain proper accounting records in that she:
- Failed to carry out reconciliations every 5 weeks
- Failed to complete Accountants’ reports as required
The allegations are subject to a Hearing before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and are as yet unproven.
Decision - Control of practice
Outcome: Condition
Outcome date: 22 April 2024
Published date: 26 April 2024
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Lewis Mitchell Solicitors inc Ruth Moores & Co
Address(es): Primrose Dairy, Railway View Road, Clitheroe BB7 2HE
Firm ID: 630158
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Mrs Michelle Niaz's practising certificate for 2022/2023 is subject to the following conditions:
- Mrs Niaz is not a manager or owner of any authorised body, authorised non-SRA firm or legal services body.
- Mrs Niaz may not act as a compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) or a compliance officer for finance and administration (COFA) for any authorised body.
- Mrs Niaz may not provide legal services as a freelance solicitor offering reserved or unreserved services on her own account under Regulation 10.2(a) or (b) of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations.
In these conditions the terms are as defined in the SRA Glossary.
Reasons/basis
The above interim conditions are made under rule 3.2 of the SRA Regulatory and Disciplinary Procedure Rules, which states that at any stage an authorised decision maker may, pending a final decision by the SRA or the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, impose interim condition(s) on the practising certificate of a solicitor. We are satisfied that these conditions are necessary in the public interest or for the protection of the public.