Meet the Team
Ambereen Mahmood
Solicitor
Amber is an Associate Solicitor with a multidisciplinary practice including Personal injury, civil litigation and family law. Amber was called to the Solicitors Roll in 2015 but has been in the legal profession since 2010 and was working for a High Street firm in Manchester whilst completing her GDL and LPC.
Amber has built up her practice over the last 15 years, whilst working at some of the country’s most prestigious law firms. Amber worked at Hill Dickinson in the early years of her career as an Admin Assistant within the Health team and was assisting a team of 10 Solicitors from the initiation of a matter through to the Inquest Hearing at the Court of Protection. During her time at Hill Dickinson, she was also involved in the commercial aspects of the business, helping organize events days for existing and potential new clients.
Following her time at Hill Dickinson, Amber gained the position of a Trainee Solicitor at a leading High Street firm in Manchester. Amber’s role was that of a litigator in various EL, PL, OL and RTA matters that the firm was instructed on. Amber handled over 250/300 matters at any one time and subsequently qualified as a Solicitor in late 2015.
Moving on, Amber joined another High Street firm in the role of Senior Solicitor, where she was handling her own case load but also supervising the Paralegals and Junior Solicitors. Amber subsequently took charge of the Litigation Department and was responsible for making all key decisions on cases and bringing proceedings at Court.
Thereafter, Amber joined a multi-national firm, namely Eversheds as a Senior Solicitor in their Payment Protection Insurance Department. Amber was supervising a team of 8 paralegals/Solicitors and advising on matters at different stages of the Litigation process.
On the birth of her second child, Amber required some much needed flexibility and decided to become a Consultant Solicitor working with a High Street practice and mainly concentrating on civil litigation and Family law matters. Amber has a considerable following of her own and is regularly instructed by clients on a variety of matters.
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.
Umar Shahzad
Barrister
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.
Imran Rashid
Managing Director
Imran is the founder and managing director of Denning Law Solicitors and has over 16 years experience in the legal sector. After initially studying at the Bar, Imran later cross qualified as a Solicitor.
Imran delivers a bespoke service to clients focusing on their needs and objectives. He is dedicated to resolving matters as amicably as possible and is known for his compassionate approach.
Imran has done extensive work in matters relating to Civil and Commercial, Family Law and Immigration.
Imrans civil litigation experience includes negotiating compensation in sum of £1.9 million for a client who suffered life changing catastrophic injuries.
Imran has extensive experience in all aspects of family law including divorce, separation, co-habitation and complex financial disputes.