Solicitor Anal Sheikh is suing her barrister and former lover Marc Beaumont, claiming he deducted £250 an hour from her legal ‘fighting fund’ for time they spent in bed together.
The two became friendly when he was hired to fight a disciplinary case for her. He says he will answer her 81-page writ with one of his own next week.
Ms Sheikh agreed a fixed fee for Beaumont’s services of £120,000 plus £250 an hour for extra “unforseen or urgent work.” She claims he deducted a further £23,000 from her fund and is suing for £800,000 in compensation, special damages and interest.
In happier times, the Sun reports, they would share salt beef sandwiches and apple strudel at the posh Grimsdyke hotel in Harrow.
A tricky case, to be sure.
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On 25th June 2009, Mr Justice Simon awarded summary judgment in favour of Mr Beaumont, and dismissed all allegations against him. He made a costs order in favour of Mr Beaumont. He made an interim award of costs in the sum of £ 50,000. He decided that several of Miss Sheikh’s applications were “totally without merit.”
On 5th May 2009, Miss Sheikh was struck off the roll of solicitors by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. The SDT found that she had been dishonest.