Direct Email: ama@no5.com
Abid has more than 28 years’ experience as a barrister and has been sitting as a part time judge since 2006. He has an eclectic practice covering general common law. He has appeared at all levels, including at the County Court and the High Court. He also has extensive experience as lead Counsel at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
Family Law Finance
In family law finance, Abid’s recent high value cases have included international property issues with substantial property portfolios in the UK and elsewhere in the GBP millions. Other cases have involved high net worth business ownership and family structure/estates following divorce. His recent cases have included family finance trials lasting several days. He is instructed on behalf of both spouses and interveners in such cases. His experience is in respect of financial remedies on divorce and property disputes following the separation of non-married couples.
Estates and trusts
Abid has specialist experience in contentious probate, on issues of upholding or challenging the validity of wills under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. He is very experienced in Court of Protection work including Statutory Wills, the removal and appointment of Deputies and costs of deputies. This enables him to have a 360-degree view of what might arise in family finance cases.
Property
Abid has extensive experience in chancery work involving the beneficial ownership of property, encompassing issues of proprietary estoppel, undue influence and constructive trusts. This has a direct bearing on family law finance following cohabitation. Recent cases include the crossover between the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 and section 37 MCA.
Care Proceedings/Adoption/Private Law/International Movement
Abid is one of the few barristers able to use his experience in immigration law and international movement to deal with cases with the complexities which arise. He has regularly been instructed to provide reports and opinions in such cases for the High Court and is instructed by all parties to appear in such cases.
Capacity and Mental Health
Abid has been instructed by local authorities, the Official Solicitor, Guardians and families in respect of cases with mental health issues, particularly those cases with young people aged 16 to 18. Here, Abid is able to draw upon his experience of High Court and Court of Protection work.
Other recent instructions include Human Rights Act damages cases for both local authorities and claimants arising out of issues concerning placements, unlawful detention of children and failures in foster placements.
He is regularly instructed by all sides including the Official Solicitor and local authorities in forced marriage cases, and trafficking cases.
His previous experience as one of the Attorney General’s Special Advocates dealing with national security cases enables him to have a good understanding of disclosure and protection matters.
Contempt of Court and Committals
Abid has appeared in High Court and Court of Appeal cases in serious contempt cases. He is also the author of a book (August 2021) “Contempt of Court and the New Rules” published by Law Brief Publishing.
Recommendations
"He's very experienced and really good with clients; he can adopt the correct approach in cases."
Chambers UK 2023 (Administrative and Public Law)
"He has the ability to think out of the box and develops novel points of law which have not been tested in the High Courts. His advocacy is clear and concise."
Legal 500 2023 (Immigration)
"He's got a good reputation in the area, he's a smooth advocate and has a nice approach to cases."
Chambers UK 2022 (Administrative and Public Law)
"Abid is personable, helpful, and effective."
Legal 500 2022 (Immigration)
“Provided clear and decisive input in a judicial review claim.”
Chambers UK 2021 (Administrative and Public Law)
“He masters the tricky balance of reassuring clients in very emotive cases without sugar-coating things.”
Legal 500 2021 (Immigration)
“Very good for difficult and unusual cases.”
Legal 500 2020 (Immigration)
“Abid’s advocacy is quite beguiling. He is very impressive and persuasive on his feet and is almost able to ‘lull’ the court and the other parties into agreeing with him. He is also superb with lay clients and is able to pitch his advice in just the right way.”
Chambers UK 2020 (Immigration)
Appointments
Recorder of the Crown Court, Civil Court and Family Courts
Deputy Upper Tribunal Judge
First-tier Tribunal Judge
Memberships
Administrative Law Bar Association
Family Law Bar Association
Midland Chancery Bar Association
Court of Protection Practitioners Association
Qualifications
Approved by the Bar Council to undertake Public Access work
Publications
Contempt of Court and the New Rules
This book, published by Law Brief Publishing, is a practical guide to contempt of court proceedings, particularly in the civil and family courts.
