Shabaz joined the firm in March 2005 and is now a qualified solicitor in the criminal department.
Experience & Areas of Expertise:
Shabaz has extensive experience in criminal litigation and has advised clients on all types of offences ranging from shoplifting to murder. Shabaz has defended clients at all levels of criminal proceedings, from the police station through to the Higher Courts.
Shabaz currently has his own criminal caseload and defends cases involving all types of offences including money laundering, fraud, sexual offences, serious cases of violence, drug supply, and firearms cases. Shabaz regularly appears at local courts as an advocate and conducts most of his own Magistrates court advocacy including trial advocacy. He has successfully completely the academic stage of the prestigious Higher Rights of Audience, and is currently working towards taking on advocacy in the Crown courts.
In his spare time Shabaz is involved with various projects in the local community, particularly local youth projects assisting youngsters facing social and educational challenges. Shabaz helps arrange events for a local youth club and a weekly youth circle where youngsters can discuss and get advice on any issues in a friendly environment.
Panel Membership:
Shabaz has also successfully completed the Criminal Litigation Accreditation Scheme allowing him to act as a duty solicitor and supervise junior members of staff. Shabaz is also police station accredited.
Clients/Cases of Interest:
R v A (2009)
Shabaz represents a young defendant who is accused of attempting to kill two people following a sustained knife attack. This case has been transferred to the Old Bailey.
R v K (2009)
Shabaz represents a defendant accused of being involved in a conspiracy to handle high value motor vehicles to the value of £200,000.
R v O (2009)
Shabaz represented a 20 year old accused of supplying Class A drugs, as well being in possession of prohibited items under the Firearms Act. The Defendant pleaded guilty, but the defence argued for a deferred community sentence. This was agreed by the Crown Court Judge, and the defendant did not go to prison, despite the fact that generally a defendant would received around 3 years imprisonment for these offences.
R v Munir (2009)
Shabaz represented a taxi driver who was arrested for death by careless driving after he was involved in a road collision in which a man was killed. The defendant was acquitted.
R v Q & F (2008)
Shabaz was instructed to represent two defendants accused of conspiracy to murder. The defendants were accused of being involved in an attempt to kill somebody by setting fire to him. Both defendants were eventually acquitted.
R v Hussain (2008)
The Defendant was due to lose his drivers licence because he was not insured. Shabaz assisted the defendant by arguing that Special Reasons applied in his case. The Court accepted this argument, and the Defendant was given an absolute discharge and did not receive any penalty points.
R v Loveday (2008)
The Defendant was arrested for a total of six armed robberies in the Essex and Surrey area. The Defendant was eventually acquitted of five of these robberies, and he pleaded guilty to one robbery. He received just four years imprisonment, despite having previous convictions for similar offences.
