MENU
CLOSE
The Law Platform
© Copyright 2021 - 2026
A barrister has been disbarred after a disciplinary tribunal found that she secretly recorded family court hearings on several occasions, misled the court, breached client confidentiality and engaged in inappropriate conduct towards a former employee.
Mariam El-Sobky, who was called to the Bar of England and Wales by Lincoln’s Inn in March 2001, was ordered to be disbarred following a disciplinary hearing that concluded on 11 August 2026. The tribunal found multiple instances of professional misconduct, including conduct involving dishonesty, a failure to act with integrity and breaches of her duty to the court.
The disciplinary proceedings concerned three cases. According to the Bar Standards Board (BSB), the tribunal concluded that El-Sobky had made dishonest and/or misleading statements to the court, conduct which meant that she had failed to uphold the standards of honesty and integrity expected of a barrister.
Secret recordings of family court hearings
The core part of the disciplinary findings concerned El-Sobky’s recording of court proceedings.
Between March and December 2021, she made audio recordings of family court hearings on at least three occasions without obtaining the consent of the parties or the judge. The tribunal found that she knew she was not legally entitled to make the recordings but proceeded to do so. She subsequently sent the recordings to employees and asked them to transcribe the contents.
The conduct was found to amount to a failure to observe her duty to the court in the administration of justice and behaviour likely to diminish public trust and confidence in both her and the legal profession.
The findings are particularly significant because court proceedings, and especially family proceedings, operate within strict rules governing recording, confidentiality and the protection of sensitive information. A barrister’s professional obligations extend beyond advancing a client’s interests and include an overriding duty to the administration of justice.
Other misconduct found by the tribunal
In one case, El-Sobky was found to have harassed a former employee in a group chat by making fun of confidential mental health issues. The tribunal considered this conduct alongside the other allegations in determining the appropriate sanction.
about 8 hours ago
12th Aug, 2026
29th Jul, 2026
28th Jul, 2026
20th Jul, 2026
The tribunal further found that she failed to keep a client’s affairs confidential. Appeal papers were sent to the personal email address of an individual employed by her to carry out work on the case without first obtaining a confidentiality agreement from that individual.
The combination of these findings demonstrated, according to the disciplinary findings, a pattern of conduct that fell substantially below the professional standards required of a barrister.
A history of disciplinary proceedings
The latest proceedings were not El-Sobky’s first appearance before a professional disciplinary tribunal.
In 2021, she was reprimanded and fined £2,000 after a tribunal found that she had improperly approached the opposing party in family proceedings without that person’s lawyer present. She was also ordered to shadow an experienced family practitioner for six months. At the time, the tribunal considered that she had acted out of concern for her client but lacked sufficient experience of the rules and procedures applicable to family practice.
The current disciplinary proceedings began with a five-person tribunal hearing held between 23 February and 3 March 2026. The matter was subsequently adjourned for consideration of sanction on 10 and 11 August. The Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service records El-Sobky’s case as having been heard by a panel chaired by His Honour Simon Davis, with Claire Cheetham, Ian Arundale, Naomi Ryan and Kane Simons also sitting on the tribunal.
Disbarment reflects seriousness of misconduct
The BSB said the decision to disbar El-Sobky reflected the seriousness of the misconduct.
A spokesperson for the regulator said that El-Sobky had failed to observe her duty to the court in the administration of justice and that her behaviour fell “far below” the standards the public rightly expects of barristers.
Disbarment is among the most serious sanctions available within the Bar’s disciplinary system. The Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service explains that findings involving disbarment or suspension remain published indefinitely, reflecting the seriousness of those sanctions. It also notes that sanctions may be subject to appeal and, in the ordinary course, take effect after the applicable appeal period has expired unless the tribunal orders otherwise.
In El-Sobky’s case, the BSB has confirmed that the tribunal’s findings remain subject to appeal.
Source: The Law Society Gazette
Unlock premium articles, PDF downloads, cases and more
Learn how to subscribe