28 Oct 2021

Unregistered barrister Victor Adiamah was prevented from applying for a practising certificate for nine months by an independent disciplinary tribunal which concluded on 27 October following charges of professional misconduct brought by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).

The tribunal’s decision follows a personal injury claim at Bradford Combined Court Centre on 6 March 2019 arising from a road traffic collision. Mr Adiamah discontinued his claim for compensation without explaining discrepancies between his own case and with the other driver’s unchallenged evidence. This led the judge in the case to find that Mr Adiamah had been fundamentally dishonest. This week’s disciplinary tribunal therefore found that Mr Adiamah had behaved in a way which could reasonably be seen by the public to undermine his honesty.

The tribunal also found that in a witness statement which formed part of the same claim for personal injury compensation dated 21 July 2018, Mr Adiamah had held himself out as a practising barrister when he was not authorised to do so. By doing this, the tribunal found that he had behaved in a way which was likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public places in him or in the profession.

Commenting on the tribunal’s finding, a BSB spokesperson said: “Behaving in a way which leads a judge to describe you as fundamentally dishonest and holding yourself out as a practising barrister when you are not entitled to do so are serious matters. The tribunal’s decision to prevent Mr Adiamah from applying for a practising certificate for nine months reflects the expectation that barristers are not only honest but are seen to act honestly, including when they appear as a party to a case.”

The tribunal’s decision is open to appeal.

ENDS

 

Notes to editors

About Victor Adiamah

Victor Adiamah was called to the Bar of England and Wales by Lincoln’s Inn in November 2012.  

About disciplinary tribunals

The appointment, operation, and decisions (including sentencing) of disciplinary tribunal panels are performed by the Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service (BTAS). BTAS is run independently of the Bar Standards Board, the barristers' regulator. The BSB is responsible for bringing charges of professional misconduct against barristers, which BTAS tribunal panels then adjudicate. The sanctions imposed are a matter for the tribunal having regard to the facts of the individual case and the BTAS Sanctions Guidance.

About the Bar Standards Board

Our mission is to regulate barristers and specialised legal services businesses in England and Wales in the public interest. For more information about what we do visit: http://bit.ly/1gwui8t

 

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