An independent disciplinary tribunal has ordered that barrister Saleema Mahmood be disbarred following a finding of professional misconduct arising from charges brought by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).
The tribunal, which commenced on 1 October and concluded on 6 October, found that Ms Mahmood had acted dishonestly in relation to her participation in two criminal trials, one in Nottingham and the other in Stafford. Ms Mahmood had been granted permission to attend the Nottingham trial remotely due to needing to be near her mother who was ill, but failed to inform the court that she was also appearing in a different trial in Stafford.
Ms Mahmood admitted the allegations during the hearing. The panel found that she had acted dishonestly and failed to act with integrity. Having made these findings, the tribunal decided that the appropriate sanction was to order her disbarment.
The tribunal also ordered that Ms Mahmood’s practising certificate be suspended with immediate effect.
A spokesperson for the Bar Standards Board said:
“The public and the profession must be able to have confidence that barristers act with honesty, this being particularly the case in relation to professional commitments. The tribunal’s decision to disbar Ms Mahmood reflects the seriousness of this misconduct and the importance of maintaining trust and confidence in the profession.”
The tribunal’s findings remain subject to appeal.
About Saleema Mahmood
Saleema Mahmood was called to the Bar of England and Wales by Lincoln’s Inn in 1999.
