A controversial civil liberties lawyer who “dishonestly” settled the claims of two former clients without their consent, has been struck off the solicitors' roll after she failed to cooperate with legal authorities.
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal found that Soophia Khan breached an undertaking to London firm McMillan Williams, where she previously worked, by settling the costs claims without notifying them.
Khan, 42, also did not cooperate with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the legal ombudsman (LeO) following complaints from a third former client.
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal found that she failed to comply with a court order to produce documents. It also refused to rehear her case.
Tribunal chair Ashok Ghosh ordered that her name be removed from the solicitors roll despite her claim that there had been “no harm or prejudice” to her former clients or McMillan Williams.
Khan was also ordered to pay the SRA £109,681.82 in costs, the Law Society Gazette reported.
Earlier, the SRA which had been investigating the allegations of dishonesty against her had shut Sophie Khan & Co which she had set up in Leicester in 2013 and suspended her from practising. But she refused to hand over documents sought by the watchdog despite a court order.
A High Court judge ordered the police to bring her before him after she failed to appear to face proceedings over the allegations. In January this year, she was also sentenced to three months of imprisonment for contempt.
The former chair of the civil justice committee of the Law Society unsuccessfully challenged her sentence and the watchdog’s intervention in her legal practice.
Khan held important positions in campaign groups that took actions against the police over stop-and-search and other policies, The Times said.
She called herself a legal expert on Tasers and often appeared on TV and radio as a champion of civil liberties.
Tribunal throws controversial lawyer Soophia Khan out of legal profession
She is found to have “dishonestly� settled the claims of two former clients
Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in northwest of London, in July 2024. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Crossbow murderer found guilty of raping ex-girlfriend
A 26-YEAR-OLD man who murdered three women in a crossbow and stabbing attack has been found guilty of raping one of them, his ex-girlfriend, a British court ruled on Thursday.
Kyle Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in Bushey, northwest of London, in July 2024.
The attack led to a manhunt before Clifford was found injured hours later in a north London cemetery.
A jury at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday convicted Clifford of raping 25-year-old Louise Hunt before killing her.
His sentencing for all the crimes is scheduled for Tuesday.
Clifford had admitted to murdering Carol Hunt, 61, and her daughters Louise and Hannah, 28. He had also pleaded guilty to charges of false imprisonment and possessing offensive weapons but denied raping Louise.
During the trial, the court heard that after killing Carol Hunt, Clifford waited for an hour before attacking Louise, tying her up, raping her, and then killing her with a crossbow. He later killed Hannah when she returned home from work.
The prosecution described Clifford, a former soldier, as committing a "violent, sexual act of spite" and said he was "enraged" after Louise ended their 18-month relationship. They told the court that he had "carefully planned" the attack.
Less than 24 hours before the killings, Clifford had searched for a podcast by social media influencer Andrew Tate, according to the prosecution. They argued that the murders were driven by the "violent misogyny promoted" by Tate.
Justice Joel Bennathan called Clifford’s crimes "dreadful" and "almost unspeakable".
(With inputs from AFP)