Advice, drafting, litigation and advocacy

Oral and written advice on rights, liabilities, procedure, evidence, prospects and strategy, whether before proceedings begin, during litigation, or following a judgment or decision.

This includes case assessment, advice on merits and evidence, second opinions and strategic review of existing proceedings.

A written opinion sets out a structured analysis of the facts, law, evidence, risks and available options.

Opinions are commonly instructed where the issues are legally complex, a board or senior decision-maker requires formal advice, a substantial financial or reputational interest is engaged, or existing advice requires independent review.

Statements of case, grounds of appeal, judicial review grounds, skeleton arguments, written submissions and representations, applications, position statements, pre-action correspondence, settlement proposals and formal opinions.

As a barrister authorised to conduct litigation, Zakir may undertake the procedural conduct of appropriate cases directly: issuing proceedings, filing, correspondence with courts and opposing parties, managing deadlines, preparing applications and bundles, and progressing the matter to hearing.

The scope of litigation work is agreed in writing.

Appearance in contested and non-contested proceedings: trials, appeals, interim and case management hearings, injunction applications, judicial review hearings, tribunal hearings, family proceedings, regulatory hearings, sentencing and mitigation.

Advice on the prospects and procedure of challenging judgments, orders and administrative decisions, including permission to appeal, error of law analysis, judicial and statutory review, appellate advocacy and urgent applications connected with an appeal.

Urgent instructions are accepted subject to availability and sufficient time to act professionally. Urgent work includes injunctions, interim relief, removal-related applications, emergency family applications, time-sensitive public law challenges, stays of enforcement and urgent appeals.

Any deadline should be identified at the outset of the enquiry.

An independent review of an existing case: its merits, evidence, procedural position, costs exposure and available alternatives.

Frequently instructed where proceedings have become prolonged, several advisers have been involved, a significant hearing is approaching, or the client requires a second opinion before committing further.

Assessment of settlement value, identification of legal and commercial leverage, drafting and responding to offers, representation at negotiations and mediation, settling terms of agreement, and protecting the client's position if settlement is not achieved.

Preparation for and representation in mediation, advice on arbitration-related issues, and assistance with settlement terms.

Whether ADR is pursued depends on the merits, the commercial position, the relationship between the parties and the likelihood of an enforceable resolution.