Zubair Ahmad KC

Practice Areas

Zubair is a leading silk, described as “a phenomenal advocate,” “a great tactician in extraordinarily difficult cases,” and “unbelievably able, immensely knowledgeable and with very sound judgment.” He has extensive experience in both civil disputes and criminal matters, often advising corporate, professional, and HNW clients.

He is one of the few silks appointed in both civil and criminal law. He handles cases where these areas intersect, such as the Belhaj case, where he worked on both the private civil claim and the judicial review of the CPS’s decision not to prosecute a public official involved in extraordinary rendition. He has also acted in civil, criminal, and immigration cases related to Syria sanctions.

He regularly advises corporate, professional, and HNW clients on reputational management, preventing prosecution through strategic pre-charge representations. He secured the release of a British director detained in Albania by having the extradition request withdrawn and recently helped a client avoid prosecution under the Terrorism Act.

His expertise also includes immigration and nationality cases, particularly British citizenship deprivation due to criminal allegations. He has successfully challenged the Secretary of State’s refusal to relocate foreign clients to the UK in judicial reviews. He also advises corporate clients on the Official Secrets Acts and, with significant expertise in Closed Material Procedure and the Justice and Security Act 2013, on the National Security and Investment Act 2021.

Additionally, he is currently acting in a £263 million NatWest money laundering case and has successfully defended clients in multiple homicide trials.