‘Named and shamed’ barrister banned from public access work

A public access barrister who was named and shamed by the Legal Ombudsman has been suspended from practice for 14 months.

Tariq Rehman has also been banned from accepting or carrying out public access instructions for three years.

Rehman, head of Kings Court Chambers in Birmingham, ‘failed to take all reasonable steps to ensure his chambers were administered competently and efficiently’, according to a Bar Standards Board disciplinary tribunal.

He was found guilty of misconduct for a second time in February after he had delayed or failed to refund fees and pay compensation to clients.

In May the Gazette reported that the High Court had dismissed as ‘totally without merit’ claims by Rehman that sought to overturn charges against him.

Rehman sought to overturn a number of disciplinary tribunal decisions and also lodged two judicial reviews, one which, if granted, would have undermined every finding and determination against him by the disciplinary tribunal.

The claim also aimed to set aside every adverse finding made by the tribunal against any barrister, and to have every barrister who has ever been disbarred or suspended restored and paid compensation.

The LeO publicly named and named Rehman in 2014 because of the number of complaints against him.

Rehman argued at the time that the number of complaints reflected the size of his direct access caseload and that 97% of his clients were satisfied with his service. 

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‘Named and shamed’ barrister banned from public access work