A partner in a law firm has refused to act for an Israeli client, simply because he is Israeli.

Kassam Boota, a partner of Abbott Legal Limited, trading as XYZ Law, told an Israeli client, while in the middle of several transactions for him, that he did not agree with the actions of the Israeli government so refused to act for him any longer.

LinkedIn image of Kassam Boota

The Israeli client told UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) that his solicitor said that he “does not agree with the actions of the Israeli government and, due to his beliefs as a Muslim, he no longer wants to represent me. He then went on to say that he would ask the firm to reassign my case to another solicitor.”

The Israeli,  a mortgage broker who had three property transactions on the go at that law firm, was completely shocked by what happened.

He commented “I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.  I never experienced anything like that before and didn’t know how to react as it caught me by surprise. I felt humiliated and angry at the same time that a solicitor allowed himself to say that to me in the open with no shame or worry about any consequences, as if it was a very normal and ok thing to do or say!”

Abbott Legal was aware that Kassam Boota, had refused to act for the Israeli. The same day, the client confirmed with the “head of new business”, Justin Terrett, what had happened and to ensure someone would take over his cases. Mr Terret responded that Kassam had told him about it, and asked the client for a list of his files, so they could be transferred to someone else.

UKLFI has reported Abott Legal Limited to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for discrimination, after its blatant breach of Section 29 of the Equality Act 2010, and of the SRA principle of encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion.

Caroline Turner, director of UKLFI commented:  “It is surprising that a member of a law firm can act so illegally and be so blatantly discriminatory in his treatment of the firm’s own clients.  This offensive behaviour took place last October 2024 and yet the person continues to be listed as working as a partner at XYZ Law.  We deplore such behaviour and hope that the SRA will act to stop this discrimination.”