Vancouver lawyer fined $12K for misconduct involving 30 clients over 5 years
A Vancouver lawyer is facing a $12,000 fine over professional misconduct spanning five years and 30 immigration law clients.
Kashif A. Ahmed has entered a consent agreement with the Law Society of B.C., which he’s been a member of since 2011. In the agreement, he admits to failing to provide his clients with “the quality of service required of a competent lawyer.”
According to a notice of the deal, which was posted online Monday, Ahmed’s misconduct took place between January 2012 and May 2015.
During that period, an unnamed company referred 30 clients to Ahmed, all of them foreign nationals seeking to immigrate to Canada under the Yukon Business Nominee Program (YBNP).
Through the program—which is designed to attract and retain international entrepreneurs to the territory—the Yukon government can nominate individuals for work permits in Canada, and nominees gain support in their application for permanent residency (PR).
After submitting a total of 30 PR applications to the federal government on behalf of his clients, Ahmed “was surprised” to learn 29 of the submissions included fraudulent YBNP certificates, according to the agreement.
It’s believed his clients were victims of a fraudulent scheme, but the Law Society of B.C. says Ahmed “ought to have known” his clients were receiving unauthorized assistance or advice regarding their immigration applications—potentially from the unnamed company who referred them to the lawyer.
His misconduct includes not reviewing the clients’ PR applications with them directly and without third-party representatives present.
In addition, when notified by the federal government that dozens of his clients were required to attend interviews over their fraudulent applications, Ahmed communicated that information with the company—not directly with the individuals.
As a result, seven of his clients missed their meetings, had their applications denied and were deemed inadmissible to Canada for five years.
According to the consent agreement, another 11 clients were denied permanent residency, but did not receive a five-year ban on reapplying.
The law society found Ahmed also failed to confirm retainer agreements directly with clients, and did not identify potential conflicts of interest.
On top of paying a fine, Ahmed must complete six additional professional development credits by the end of this year. He also has to meet with a bencher to discuss his misconduct.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.