A barrister who invoiced a client on chambers letter-headed paper but asked for fees to be paid to his personal bank account has been disbarred for acting dishonestly.
Ravi Sidhu, called by Inner Temple in 1988, was instructed through Birmingham-based Citadel chambers to act in an inquest. He prepared five invoices, all on headed paper, totalling more than £44,000. Four of the invoices were paid while the last, for £6,510, was waived by Sidhu.
Sidhu, who denied the charges, was found to have acted dishonestly over the invoices. He was also found to have acted dishonestly in creating a misleading impression to his client and instructing solicitor that the matter was being conducted through chambers.
The tribunal heard that Sidhu, a former CPS lawyer and deputy coroner who has now retired, paid the £6,593 due to the chambers once he became aware there was an issue.
Sidhu told the Bar Tribunals & Adjudication Service that he assumed chambers knew about the work and his invoicing was an honest mistake. In closing submissions Sidhu, who represented himself, spoke of his ‘deep regrets at the situation’ and apologised adding: ‘I am sorry for the distress I caused’. He added the client had agreed the outcome of the case ‘was a positive one for her’.
