Leigh Day senior partner Martyn Day, partner Sapna Malik and associate Anna Crowther have appeared at the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal this week to defend themselves against allegations of misconduct over claims that British soldiers tortured civilians in Iraq.
Lawyers for the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) told the tribunal there was evidence that the firm suppressed a document showing the alleged victims of atrocities were not Iraqi civilians but members of the Mahdi army who ambushed the soldiers. Had the list been disclosed, the £31m Al Sweady public inquiry could have been stopped and years of unnecessary torment for Iraq veterans been prevented, the SRA said. The inquiry has now been closed down and its lead solicitor, Phil Shiner of Public Interest Lawyers, has been struck off.
All three solicitors vigorously deny the allegations. Day and Malik face 19 misconduct charges. Crowther faces one allegation.
Speaking ahead of the hearing this week, Iain Miller, partner at Kingsley Napley, who specialises in regulatory issues for the legal sector, said: ‘Unlike the recent process involving Phil Shiner, we can expect a closely fought case over the next six weeks.
‘The stakes are high with reputational damage, a large fine and even revocation of authorisation and partner strike-off being amongst the spectrum of potential outcomes if Leigh Day and its two partners cannot succeed in contesting the allegations. However, it’s a mid-sized, multi-practice firm and my view is it will ultimately weather the storm.
‘Undoubtedly Leigh Day faces an uncomfortable spotlight for its past work on Al Sweady but my prediction is they’ll be down for a bit, but most certainly not out as a result of this process.’
The hearing is expected to continue for six weeks.
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