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Tahir Ashraf

Commercial Law Barrister | 15+ years experience

Tahir's practice includes all facets of business, commercial and property law. His caseload often includes cases with an international element to them. Tahir has won multiple awards and is cross-qualified as a commercial Solicitor-Advocate, too. This has given him a unique understanding of the challenges faced by professional and lay clients.
Tahir | Barrister Profile Photo

Tahir's Biography

Areas covered
His particular expertise includes: Alternative Dispute Resolution, Aviation Leasing, Banking and Islamic Finance, Company Commercial Contracts, Defamation, Privacy and Media, EU & Public International, Financial Crime (in particular forex trading), Insolvency, Intellectual Property, Professional Negligence, Property and Land (including planning and environmental law), Regulatory Compliance & Commercial Judicial Review, Contested Probate
Background

As a commercial law specialist, Tahir has been instructed in a high number of cases (See Cases & Publications for full details) including in banking and financial services, defamation, privacy and media, bankruptcy, chancery, company law, contract law, debt and insolvency.

Experienced in high-value cases, Tahir has advised on the £50m acquisition of a luxury hotel brand, as well as worked with High Net Worth clients and Independent Financial Advisors on arbitration and on appeals against arbitration awards. Tahir also advises in the specialist area Islamic Finance including different aspects of Sharia-compliant transactions and advice on sukuk and murabaha issuances.

Tahir accepts instructions in advisory and contentious matters from High Net Worth individuals and SME businesses concerning almost all business, commerce and insolvency law-related matters.

His particular expertise includes:

  •  Alternative Dispute Resolution
  •  Aviation Leasing
  •  Banking and Islamic Finance
  •  Company Commercial Contracts
  •  Defamation, Privacy and Media
  •  EU & Public International
  •  Financial Crime (in particular forex trading)
  •  Insolvency
  •  Intellectual Property
  •  Professional Negligence
  •  Property and Land (including planning and environmental law)
  •  Regulatory Compliance & Commercial Judicial Review
  •  Contested Probate

BACKGROUND

Tahir’s introduction to law came during journalism training at the BBC in the 1990s. Tahir was thrust into voluntary interpreting which became the eventual springboard for a legal career.

Spotted and encouraged by his law lecturer, Tahir undertook legal work experience and spent time observing independently and discussing court proceedings with High Court judges. Mentored by a commercial Queen’s Counsel and two Chancery Commercial High Court Judges, Tahir became a qualified advocate in 2008, upon completion of his Bar Vocational Course with BPP.

After completing the academic and professional stages of qualification, Tahir trained in part at The Insolvency Service where he developed a passion for insolvency law. Tahir went on to train in commercial, insolvency, employment and property matters at chambers in the Temple area of London.

Given the changes in the Legal profession, Tahir decided to develop an additional skill set and cross qualified as a Solicitor-Advocate at a commercial litigation firm. There, Tahir focussed again on insolvency, employment and commercial matters with an emphasis on litigation and dispute resolution, until 2013, when he joined Chambers at Gray’s Inn. In 2016, he founded a set of specialist commercial Barristers at 5 Chancery Lane. Since 2015, he is a part of the editorial board at the LexisNexis Journal of International Banking and Financial Law.

“Tahir is very personable, calm and empathetic, a barrister of the highest calibre. He is professional, attentive and tirelessly dedicated. He gets his client thoroughly involved in the process and preparation for the case, which has the added value of helping the client understand the stage by stage process. His approach, analysis, applied logic and attention to detail, mark him as a master strategist. A valuable asset in any situation.”

Personal Interests

Alongside his passion for the law, Tahir is known as “The Singing Barrister” and has an active interest in the creative arts. He is an actor, songwriter, presenter and performer. He currently hosts his own drive time radio show on current affairs and human-interest stories and has performed in theatre productions, TV shows, as well as feature films.

Qualifications

  • Called to the Bar in 2008
  •  Muslim 100 Power List
  •  Excellence in Commercial Law – Winner – Corporate LiveWire 2017
  •  Commercial Barrister of the Year - Winner – ACQ5 Global Awards 2016
  •  Commerce and Business Barrister of the Year – Winner – Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards 2016
  •  Commerce and Business Barrister of the Year – Winner – Finance Monthly Legal Awards 2016
  •  Best Commercial Barrister – Winner – UK Acquisition International Legal Awards 2015

  • BSB Certified Barristers
  • Rated 4.5 Stars on Trustpilot (500+ Reviews)
  • Data Protection Assured
  • No-commitment Quote Provided
  • 20,000+ Cases Trusted With Us

Get a quote for working with Tahir

Knowledge Base

For more information on Direct Access, Commercial Law and working with our team visit our blog.

What a McKenzie Friend Can and Cannot Do in Court
DIRECT ACCESS
What a McKenzie Friend Can and Cannot Do in Court
by Barrister Connect
Common Questions About Using Barristers for Workplace Legal Representation
EMPLOYMENT LAW
Common Questions About Using Barristers for Workplace Legal Representation
by Barrister Connect
How to Reclaim Fees When Your Court Hearing is Vacated
DIRECT ACCESS
How to Reclaim Fees When Your Court Hearing is Vacated
by Barrister Connect