The High Court has dismissed solicitor Soophia Khan’s application to adjourn a committal hearing in relation to two contempt applications brought by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Khan, a former chair of the Law Society civil justice committee, was automatically suspended in August after the SRA intervened in relation to her Leicester practice Sophie Khan & Co Limited over suspicions of dishonesty. She later announced that the firm had been taken over by a charity called Just for Public Ltd (JFP).
The SRA, which last month obtained an injunction to stop Khan ‘unlawfully’ acting as a lawyer through JFP, alleged Khan was in contempt of court by failing to comply with two High Court orders requiring her to deliver up client files.
Today, lawyers for Khan, who was in court, sought to adjourn the committal hearing on several grounds, which include medical reasons.
Mr Justice Leech said a letter provided by Khan’s GP yesterday did not satisfy an adjournment but he would give ‘full weight’ to Khan’s mental and physical condition in his decision.
The hearing continues.
