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Founding Members

 

Ali Mohammed Azhar
Year of Call: 1962

Education:

BA (University of Rajshahi)
MA (University of Dhaka)


Mr Azhar and his brother, Mr Abbas, founded these Chambers in 1974. They were largely responsible for building 9 KBW from a small set into the thriving set that it is today.

Following his loss in August 2014, Chambers is now headed by his daughter Shabeena Azhar and his Son in Law Jonathan Mole, two people of whom he was very proud, both personally and professionally;

During his long career Mr Azhar was a well known leader within the Bangladeshi community and he helped many thousands with their legal difficulties, whether that be in criminal, family, immigration or civil matters. His daughter, Shabeena Azhar who succeeds him , together with her husband Jonathan Mole will, continue Mr Azhars work in serving that community.

Mr Azhar was recognised as a leading expert in Sharia Law and had extensive experience in all areas of law at the highest level, including the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords.

He acted as leading junior in many significant cases representing those charged with murder and other offences of the most serious nature, as well as high-profile matters such as the case of Salman Rushdie "Satanic Verses" and the Tipton Three. Several of his cases have been reported and are still leading authorities. These include DPP v Fagan (mens rea), Hoque v Singh (immigration) and Qureshi v Qureshi (family).

Mr Azhar was enrolled as an advocate of the High Court of East Pakistan and is and was an expert on the Islamic law of marriage, divorce, contact, custody and guardianship, inheritance and succession, as applicable in any Muslim country in the world, and particularly in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.

During his time as Head of Chambers at 9 KBW Mr Azhar was always heavily involved in Chambers' human rights work abroad in, such cases as the Guantanamo Bay case. He defended in a murder in Canada and attended national security courts in Turkey and Egypt. He visited Israel and made representations for the release of Palestinians from the Israeli high security prisons, as well as a military tribunal in Cairo.

In 2005 he attended the Maldives as part of a four-strong delegation, led by Sir Ivan Lawrence QC, who were engaged on a fact-finding mission concerning alleged human rights abuses.

In 2012 Mr Azhar joined the defence team of former President Mohammed Nasheed to advice on the forthcoming trial.

http://minivannews.com/politics/uk-based-lawyers-to-aid-nasheed-defence-in-unprecedented-legal-move-45315

Mr Azhar was an example to us all of the finest in the legal profession.

 

Ali Mohammed Abbas

News

Surinder Singh Gohlan acts as Judge in The Westminster Bar Society Criminal Moot
The Westminster Bar Society had the privilege of hosting barristers Surinder Singh Gohlan from 9KBW, James Caudwell from 2 Harcourt Buildings and New York Attorney Charity Mafuba as judges for our criminal law moot on Saturday 1 st April 2023 sponsored by The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn.

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Piers Walter successful in application to join the CPS Advocate Panel.
9 KBW offers warmest congratulations to Piers Walter, following his successful application to join the CPS Advocate Panel at level 1.

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George Skinner successful in application at level 2 on the CPS Advocate Panel
Chambers are delighted to announce that George Skinner has been successful in his application to upgrade to Level 2 on the London and South-East Advocate Panel. We offer our warmest congratulations to George, who now joins our ever growing panel of CPS advocates at levels 2, 3 and 4.

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R -v- Lewis, Findlay & Alpergin: Croydon Crown Court; Sentence 9th Feb 2023
John Clifford secures the conviction of three Defendants as part of an Organised Criminal Network involved in firearms and drugs supply as well as counterfeit currency.

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9 KBW members highly successful in applications to upgrade on the CPS Advocate Panel
9 KBW is delighted to announce that nine of our members were successful in their applications to upgrade to Levels 4, 3 and 2. The successful results were as follows; Jonathan Mole and Daniel Cohen both successful at Grade 4 Suzanne Fewins successful at Grade 3 Stephen Wells, Surinder Singh Gohlan, Callum Morgan, Clara Sibanda, Samuel March and Charlie Austin-Groome all successful at Grade 2 .

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