Surinder Singh Gohlan

Surinder has accumulated a wealth of experience in criminal law, having worked in both the public sector as an employed barrister and in the private sector, as a Higher Rights Advocate and Duty Solicitor, for a number of prestigious criminal defence firms.

Surinder is regularly instructed in Crown Court trials at all levels and continues to represent his clients at the police station and in the Magistrates Courts.

His practice encompasses dealing with clients charged with motoring offences at the Magistrates Courts through to Murder, Serious Sexual Offences, Arson and Robbery at the Crown Courts.

He is regularly instructed to advise on complex cases, before taking them through to trial at the Crown Court.

Surinder prides himself on being fearless when defending his clients, his attention to detail and meticulous approach to dealing with evidence is evident when he is in court. He particularly enjoys getting to the minutia of a case. 

When dealing with any of his clients he demonstrates patience and a genuine understanding of their background and has a grounded, friendly approachable manner that puts his clients at ease and reassures them throughout the proceedings.

Current Instructions and Recent Cases in the Crown Courts

R v S (2022) Perverting the course of justice x 2. Trial fixed for 2022. The client has allegedly conspired with a youth and two other adults to evade a serious traffic offence. The matter is due for trial in 2022. 

R v A (2021) - Possession of Ammunition, Possession with the intent to supply Class A Drugs and 

Possession with Intent to Supply Class B. Trial fixed for December 2021. A is alleged to have held a safe containing various items including class A and B drugs and a large amount of ammunition and various high value items which are connected to a Burglary.

R v O (2021 - Arson with the intent to endanger life, GBH and three counts of assault on an emergency worker. The matter proceeded to trial on the GBH where the client was found guilty and sentenced. 

R v O (2021) - 13 count indictment, for a combination of Burglary, Theft and Fraud. The number of indictment counts were considerably reduced after successful negotiations with the Crown and O pleaded guilty to the remaining counts.

R v S (2021) - Attempted Murder and firearms offences.. This was a matter which arose from a police station duty where a QC and Junior were subsequently instructed and where Surinder acted as the litigator throughout. The client was found not guilty on all matters. 

R v S (2020) - 8 Counts of sexual activity with a child. The client pleaded guilty to all of the matters at the Crown Court.

R v H (2021) - 9 count indictment, including Dangerous Driving, two counts of Driving whilst disqualified, Criminal Damage and several counts of breaching a restraining order. This matter is due to be sentenced in July 2021.

Motoring Offences and Magistrates Court cases.

Surinder has worked for a number of highly regarded criminal defence firms and therefore has a professional relationship with a considerable number of instructing Solicitors. This gives his a particular refined vantage point of understanding the particular pressures his instructing Solicitors face. 

Surinder particularly specialises in representing those charged with motoring offences, presenting technical defences and novel approaches to interpreting the law. He has had notable success in cases involving special reasons, exceptional hardship, excess alcohol (including all of the statutory defences), driving while unfit, and offences of failing to comply with requests for information. 

Surinder also represents clients charged with a full range of offences who appear in the Magistrates Courts and who are committed for sentence to the Crown Court.

Surinder has worked within the voluntary sector as a volunteer advisor at a Law Centre and has also taught Law, for a number of years, at various levels. 

Other Languages spoken: 

• Punjabi (fluent) 
• Hindi and Urdu (conversational) 

Interests

Surinder has a young family who keep him on his toes. When times allows, he enjoys fine food, travelling, reading and keeping up his beloved Arsenal and practising meditation.