Venkateshwarlu Bandla Vs Solicitors Regulation Authority (England and Wales High Court (Administrative Court)
The England and Wales High Court (Administrative Court) heard a rolled-up application for an extension of time and, if granted, a statutory appeal under Section 49 of the Solicitors Act 1974 against a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) decision striking the appellant off the roll of solicitors. The appellant sought to challenge the SDT’s 2017 decision by an appeal lodged on 10 October 2024, requiring an extension of time. The Court considered the principles governing extensions of time, including the approach in Taylor v SRA, the Mitchell/Denton principles, CPR 3.9, and guidance on mental health and late appeals from J v K.
The background showed that the appellant, admitted as a solicitor in 2007, established his own firm and confirmed to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) that the firm held the required insurance. From December 2015 onwards he ceased responding to the SRA. Following unsuccessful attempts to contact him, investigations and intervention proceedings culminated in an SDT hearing on 9 May 2017. By judgment dated 22 June 2017, the SDT struck him off after finding that he had no insurance for 2015/16, had dishonestly stated on his renewal application that insurance existed, and had abandoned his firm without taking appropriate steps regarding the regulator and clients.
