Umar Shahzad
Barrister – Founding Managing Director
Umar specialises in:
- Crime
- Family Law
- Civil & Commercial Litigation
- Human Rights
- Public Law
Umar is a junior barrister with a multidisciplinary practice including crime, family and civil & commercial litigation. Umar holds a conducting litigation practicing certificate and accepts instructions under the public direct access scheme.
Umar regularly appears in the Crown Courts and Magistrates covering all aspects of criminal work. His experience includes cases of murder, manslaughter, death by dangerous driving and drink and drug driving offences, large scale drugs conspiracies, producing and supplying drugs, white collar fraud, rape and serious sexual assaults, grievous bodily harm, perverting the course of justice, money laundering, blackmail, kidnap and conspiracy to commit robbery and burglary.
Umar has spent a considerable amount of time practicing family law. This includes a complex array of matters such as finding of fact hearings, final hearings, interim removal hearings, non-accidental injuries and child contact arrangements. He has experience working on behalf of all parties involved in these matters. Umar also has experience dealing with financial remedies matters.
Umar’s experience in civil litigation has been conducting fast and multi-track trials in the County and High Court. This includes representing claimants in court (infant approval hearings, disputed directions hearings, CCMC hearings, interim applications and disposal hearings).
Umar has been involved in preparing Judicial Review Applications for Chancery and commercial matters and conducting hearings. He has dealt with cases in the European Court of Human Rights and Electoral Fraud cases. Umar has extensive knowledge and a keen interest in cases involving landlord and tenant disputes.
Umar works incredibly hard, paying particular attention to the detail in an effort to find innovative solutions for complex legal and practical problems. Whilst being mindful of the larger picture Umar gives clear and concise advice on the merits of a case. His friendly and approachable manner and professionalism in handling cases is well known.
He is renowned for his meticulous approach to mitigation when an offence is accepted in whole or in part, this has been the difference between a custodial or non-custodial sentence.
Umar is known for his ability to deal with clients from all different backgrounds, treating everyone with respect whatever the allegation or situation they may find themselves in.
Syam Soni
Barrister
Syam is a dedicated criminal defence specialist with a national practice and reputation for consistently delivering excellence. He has represented those accused of some of the most serious offences, as well as leading business professionals, CEOs and even nobility.
Principal areas of expertise include:
- Defence Crime: conspiracy to murder, multi-handed violence/disorder, serious sexual offences, weapons, multi-handed drugs conspiracies etc.
- Business Crime: multi-handed, multi-million Pound fraud, bribery, contested POCA proceedings etc.
- Inquests and Civil Litigation: experience in inquests, regulatory offences, commercial/contractual litigation with a focus on the overlap between civil and criminal fraud
Syam had a successful career in the banking industry prior to the Bar and brings experience of corporate/business awareness and practice to his instructions.
He also volunteered on Death Row in Houston, Texas.
Syam is multilingual – fluent in Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi – and authorised to accept instructions from members of the public.
Misbah Zahid
Barrister
Misbah has built a strong, multidisciplinary practice and regularly appears in Family courts across the country. She has a recognised profile of success in family law. Misbah has established herself as a popular choice in Family cases especially in public law. She is fierce practitioner who predominantly represents parents in protracted and difficult care proceedings. With where her experience of criminal advocacy she prevails in extensive cross examination of professional witnesses. She is known for her attention to detail, cross-examination skills and her ability to advise effectively in the cases she undertakes.
Misbah has also gained an exceptional reputation amongst charities who specialise in providing support and care to individuals who are engaged in private law proceedings. She regularly undertakes instructions under direct public access to local community members.
Misbah benefits from wide experience prior to coming to the Bar, which includes working in busy solicitors’ practices where she had a key role in the preparation of cases, including many noted for their complexity and seriousness (including terroist offences and complex frauds). She had particular responsibility for setting up a unit specialising in contractual disputes, consumer credit and debt collection.
Misbah is noted for her background in community work. She helped and served as a director of the a local Asian Business Forum, which has an established track record of providing a wide range of accessible legal advice and networking opportunities for businesses in the local area. She also has helped to form and then worked in a GP Practice’s Patients Rights Group to promote patients’ rights especially vulnerable and disabled patients and regularly liaised concerns with local councillors and MPs.