Farrhat Arshad

"a 'skilled and determined' defence lawyer with solid Court of Appeal experience." (Legal 500 2006 & 2007)

Recommended as a leading junior in crime (Chambers & Partners 2007)

Practice

Criminal Law
Acts for defendants in criminal proceedings, particularly cases involving human rights or civil liberties points. She practices extensively in serious criminal work in the Crown Court and her practice includes all aspects of criminal work including murder, serious drug offences, violence and sexual offences including rape, conspiracy, fraud and large scale public disorder. She is regularly led in complex and substantial cases and also appears in the Court of Appeal. Farrhat's instructing Solicitors include many of Manchester and the surrounding areas' leading criminal defence firms.

Recent cases have included:

• A substantially large cannabis importation cases (2008)
• Money laundering / fraud £500K value (2008)
• Leading defendant on indictment in multi-handed burglary trial (over £500K; 40 premises) (2007)
• Interesting case involving arguments of "automaton state" (2007)
• Sexual offences: allegations against youth of sexual offences on sleeping girl; rape; train conductor charged with sexual offence; historic abuse rape case with IPP sentence now under appeal on a point of law (2007/8)
• Appeared as junior in a conspiracy to supply class A drugs at Birmingham Crown Court (2006)
• Defended woman accused of falsely imprisoning and assaulting her daughter-in-law in the case of Pasha at Sheffield Crown Court (2006)
• Represented female juvenile in multi-handed kidnap, false imprisonment and assault case alleging torture (2006)
• Appeared for Miller in Javaherifard and Miller, described by Blackstones Criminal Practice 2006 as "a leading case on the construction of s. 25 of the Immigration Act 1971" (2005)
• Represented Linda Walker, the Manchester schoolteacher who was charged with possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, whose sentence of imprisonment was quashed at the Court of Appeal (2005)
• Represented Fathers for Justice members in appeal against conviction (2005)
• Appeared as junior counsel in a kidnapping, false imprisonment case (2004)

Public Law (Judicial Review)

Undertakes Judicial Review work, in particular that arising out of criminal proceedings, prison and ASBO proceedings.

Prison Law

All aspects of Prison Law are undertaken including Adjudications, Parole Board hearings and Lifer panels.

Civil Actions against the police

Wrongful arrest, false imprisonment and malicious prosecution.

Inquests

Representing families of the deceased in death in custody cases and other contraversial deaths. Her experience of the criminal justice system including crime, prison law and actions against the police provides valuable insight when conducting inquests into wrongful arrest / detention and the rights of detainees.

Anti-social Behaviour Orders

Defending those against whom ASBOs are sought either via section 1 of the CDA 1998 or section 1C and appeals, Judicial Review or appeals by way of case stated against the making of ASBOs.

Notable Cases

R v Baird (and another) [2006] EWCA Crim 993 (IPP sentence quashed for low-level robbery offences) > news story

Represented Linda Walker, whose sentence of imprisonment was quashed at the Court of Appeal (2005) > news story

Recommendations

Leading Junior in Crime : Northern (2008) "Garden Court North has the respected Farrhat Arshad who continues to attract some of the most interesting cases around, many with an immigration slant." Chambers & Partners 2008 more

Future star of the Bar (The Times Online 1/10/07) > news story

Regional Bar - Northern Circuit - Crime (2007) "...Farrhat Arshad, succeeded in the Court of Appeal in R v Baird" UK Legal 500 2007 edition

Leading Junior in Crime : Northern (2007) "...Farrhat Arshad impresses as a woman with a busy practice. She recently acted as defence counsel in the Linda Walker case, regarding a teacher who fired an air pistol at a group of youths." Chambers & Partners 2007 more

Regional Bar - Northern Circuit - Crime (2006) "a 'skilled and determined' defence lawyer with solid Court of Appeal experience." UK Legal 500 2006 edition

Other Activities

Contributor on criminal and prison law issues to legal publications. Recent article:

• Indeterminate ethics of sentences: What is the framework behind sentences of imprisonment for public protection, why are they so widely imposed and how can they be avoided? Farrhat Arshad and Kate Stone (Independent Lawyer, May 2008) > more

Continuing interest in the ICTY and the International Criminal Court. Advised on procedural legality in the ICTY.

Provides seminars on criminal law and public law. Recent topics have included Criminal Justice Act 2003 and Dangerous Offenders and IPP Sentencing.

Member of Manchester Prison Law Practitioners Group (MPLPG)

Professional Associations

Howard League for Penal Reform

International Law Association

Justice

Liberty.

Languages

Basic Urdu and Hindi.