Thursday 17 February 2022

Before Lord Justice Arnold
Lord Justice Nugee

This is a committal appeal. The appellant, Soophia Khan, appeals the order of Leech J dated 12 January 2022, whereby he ordered that she be committed to prison for six months for two contempts (to run concurrently) with a fixed term of three months.
The background to the dispute relates to the intervention by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in Ms Khan’s practice following suspected dishonesty at the firm. Ms Khan failed to deliver up certain practice documents to the SRA, so the SRA issued a Claim Form under CPR Part 8 and an Application Notice seeking a final order requiring Ms Khan and the Firm to deliver up practice documents and for a search and seizure order. An order was made for delivery up of the documents by Mr Justice Adam Johnson dated 7 September 2021. On 16 September 2021 the SRA issued a second Claim Form under CPR Part 8 and a second Application Notice for a final order against all three Defendants requiring them to deliver up the practice documents and property and also for a search and seizure order in relation to the Wimbledon office and Ms Khan’s residential address. An order was made by Mr Justice Miles dated 21 September 2021 for delivery up of the documents within three working days. Leech J found Ms Khan liable for contempt and committed her to prison

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