Bolton solicitor cleared of dishonesty but suspended and ordered to pay £115k costs
A high profile Bolton solicitor has today been cleared of dishonesty charges, but suspended for 18 months and ordered to pay costs of £115,000.
Karan Akram, former chief executive of high-profile Bolton firm Asons Solicitors was dealt with by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Asons was closed following an intervention from the Solicitors Regulation Authority last year.
The firm was previously granted £300,000 from Bolton Council to boost local employment opportunities.
Mr Akram faced six charges brought by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Alison Banks, chair of the tribunal panel, said: “It is clear through hard work and commitment you built up a firm you were proud of.”
However, the ruling said Akram “jeopardised all of this by failing to run your practice effectively”.
Mr Akram had “not supervised the supervisors”, which Ms Banks said was a “serious failure”.
The tribunal ordered Mr Akram to be suspended from practice for 18 months from May 22.
Costs were agreed in the sum of £115,000.
Last March Asons changed hands with another member of the Akram family taking control and the company was rebranded to Coops Law.
A company spokesperson said: “This is a fresh start for everyone – the employees and the people of Bolton.”
Coops Law said there would be no job losses as a result of the ownership switch.
The company was at the centre of a row over the award of a £300,000 grant under Bolton Council’s emergency powers procedure following its move to the former offices of The Bolton News at Newspaper House on Churchgate.
