Jagdeep
Brar
Solicitor
300730
Decision - Sanction
Outcome: Rebuke
Outcome date: 5 July 2023
Published date: 16 August 2023
Firm details
Firm or organisation at date of publication and at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Richmond & Barnes Solicitors
Address(es): 101B Stanley Road, Teddington, TW11 8UB
Firm ID: 490571
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Mr Brar was issued with a written rebuke and ordered to pay costs of £600
Reasons/basis
Who does this disciplinary decision relate to?
Mr Jagdeep Singh Brar is a solicitor and the manager and owner of Richmond and Barnes Solicitors of 101B Stanley Road, Teddington, TW11 8UB.
Summary of decision
Mr Brar was issued wi th a rebuke for unreasonably delaying in complying with a wasted costs order made against him personally dated 14 September 2021.
Facts of the misconduct
It was found that:
- On 14 September 2021, the court ordered Mr Brar personally to pay wasted costs in the sum of £12,150.50 (the wasted costs order).
- Mr Brar failed to pay the wasted costs order as and when it fell due and unreasonably delayed paying it until on or around 28 December 2022.
Mr Brar's conduct breached Principle 2 and paragraph 2.5 of the Code of Conduct for Solicitors.
SRA Principles and the Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs and RFLs 2019
SRA Principle 2: You must act in a way to uphold public trust and confidence in the profession and in legal services.
Paragraph 2.5: You must not place yourself in contempt of court and you must comply with court orders which place obligations on you.
Decision on sanction
It was decided that a rebuke was an appropriate and proportionate sanction given that Mr Brar is an experienced litigation solicitor and he unreasonably delayed in obeying a court order. Members of the public as well as members of the profession are entitled to expect solicitors, who are officers of the court, to uphold the public's trust and confidence in the solicitors' profession and in legal services. Solicitors do this by doing themselves what they are obliged to advise their clients to do, which is to obey the law and that includes complying with orders of the court.
Some public sanction was required to uphold public confidence, Mr Brar was issued with a written rebuke and ordered to pay costs of £600.