GQS SOLICITORS - 2003 - 2023 - 20 years of defending
Director and Head of Financial Crime.
Director and Head of Serious and Complex Crime.
Barrister/Consultant
Consultant Solicitor
Solicitor
Police Statoin Accredited Representative/Para Legal
Head of Financial Crime. Very High-cost case fraud supervisor.
With over 28 years of experience, Ishfaq is a seasoned professional who graduated from university in 1989 and honed his skills in the realms of accountancy and banking before transitioning to the legal field.
In 1996,Ishfaq embarked on his legal journey by joining a prominent legal practice in Birmingham. Two years later, he became a qualified criminal solicitor ,marking the beginning of his impressive career in defending clients accused of financial wrongdoing.
In 2003,Ishfaq co-founded GQS Solicitors ,leveraging his background in finance to offer expert defence to clients facing investigations by various law enforcement agencies..
Ishfaq adopts proactive approach from the outset, aiming to steer clients clear of prosecution whenever possible through active engagement with investigating authorities, In the event of a charge , Ishfaq ensures his clients are fully prepared , providing robust defence strategies tailored to each case. From police station representation to case conclusion , ishfaq maintains continuity of support , alleviating the stress and anxiety often associated with criminal allegations.
His clientele, spans diverse backgrounds , from company directors , estate agents , accountants , a testament to his versatility and expertise. Ishfaq’s defence work extends beyond financial crime to encompass drug offences , murder and sexual offences.
Ishfaq has been recognised by leading legal directory Legal 500 since 2021 and has received testimonials. This year he has been ranked by another leading legal directory Chambers and partners.
Testimonials - Legal 500
2024 - 2021
'Small firm that gives a great service. Ishfaq Qadir is extremely knowledgeable and insightful.'
'A firm with excellent client care skills that consistently go above and beyond expectations. Ishfaq Qadir is incredibly through and diligent. He is great with clients and counsel alike. A true professional'
'Ishfaq Qadir who specialises in criminal fraud cases, is extremely calm well- organised and efficient. He knows his cases back to front and is superb at very quickly establishing an excellent relationship with his clients. He is a joy to work with. '
'Ishfaq Qadir stands out. He's calm, clever and hard working. His easy, relaxed manner hides a lawyer who gives robust and pragmatic advice to clients. It is a strong team with no weak links.
‘I have worked on many cases with one of the partners, Ishfaq Qadir in fraud and general crime cases. He is first rate. His ability to digest huge amounts of material and advice the client succinctly is a wonder to behold. He always makes himself available to his client on request. His instructions to contain a full assessment of the evidence and he prides himself on obtaining the best result for his clients.’
‘ I have worked closely with Ishfaq Qadir over the last four years on two very substantial fraud cases. He is an extremely talented solicitor. He is highly organised , immensely professional and excellent with clients .He is a joy to work with.’
‘Ishfaq Qadir is a truly outstanding solicitor. He has a calm efficiency and is totally on top of his cases. He has a wonderful manner with clients.’
‘Ishfaq Qadir is the consummate professional. He stands out because he works so incredibly hard to make a difference and has the intellect and stamina to make it happen.’
‘Ishfaq Qadir knows about a case inside out and prepared to go that extra mile for his clients.’
‘Ishfaq Qadir-no matter how difficult the client or the situation he remains calm and measured.’
‘Ishfaq Qadir is a truly exceptional solicitor with a unique blend of hard work, tactical awareness, likeability, and common sense. He leaves no stone unturned, and nothing is ever too much trouble. He He’s always able to make the time to discuss something that has arisen during trial and gives a helpful point of view.’
Fraud
Ishfaq defends clients for all aspects of financial crime ranging from boiler room fraud, time share fraud , banking fraud , HMRC fraud and represents clients seeking advice and assistance for confiscation proceedings.
Drugs
Ishfaq has substantial experience of defending individuals charged with conspiracy to import and supply class A drugs.
Murder/Attempt Murder
R v SH-operation Hematite, Birmingham crown court , defending client accused murdering a 65 year old male.
Rv ST -Defended client accused of killing his boyfriend ,we successfully persuaded the prosecution to drop the murder charge and accept a plea of manslaughter .
R CH -Birmingham Crown Court defended a client accused of stabbing her sister 18 times ,complex issues of fitness to plead, client made the subject of a hospital order.
Sexual offences
R v IH-Reading crown court -successfully represented father accused of historical sexual assaults against his niece.
R V Kl – Warwick successfully defended female of sexually assaulting her nieces when they were young
Rv Ms -Birmingham crown court -successfully defended father accused of historical rapes against family members
RV RL-Birmingham crown court successfully represented grandad accused of sexually assaulting his granddaughters.
R v A-Warwick crown court operation bookbinder representing client accused with others of arranging and facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation.
R v N A- Warwick crown court Defending a self-employed man accused of sexually assaulting his previous partner’s children.
Professional Memberships
Proceeds of Crime Lawyers Association (POCLA)
The Fraud Lawyers Association (FLA)
Head of Serious and Complex Crime at GQS Solicitors.
Ahmer is an experienced criminal and complex crime solicitor and advocate. He has over 28 years experience working in the criminal defence field and handles some of the most complex and substantial of cases.
Instructed by individuals to provide expert advice in some of the most complex criminal investigations nationwide in recent years.
He has defended clients investigated by Trident [Black on Black crime], Met Police, NCA, CPS.
Ahmer has built a reputation for providing practical and clear advice to his clients.
As an accredited Police Station Solicitor with many years experience, Ahmer has intimate knowledge of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and will assist and provide expert advice to any client being interviewed for a criminal offence.
Ahmer takes a forensic approach to his client’s cases, ensuring that all potential avenues are explored in detail and where appropriate expert witnesses are instructed to assist the client.
A selection of highly skilled contacts are available to Ahmer, including forensic experts, Kings Counsel and medical experts.
Below are a small sample of cases that Ahmer Sattar has defended:
Murder
R-v- SY- Birmingham Crown Court – Murder.
SY was charged with Murder after it was alleged that he stabbed his friend whilst sat in the back of a vehicle. The front seat passenger attended Court and confirmed he had witnessed SY stab and kill the driver. There was a witness who confirmed that he burnt the blood stained clothes of SY. The girlfriend of SY confirmed that he came to her house after the Murder and was carrying a knife and he had confessed to the killing. When SY was arrested he was found by police in a house hiding under the bed and on arrest made the comment “It was either him or me” He was found Not Guilty after trial.
R- v AT – Birmingham Crown Court- Murder.
AT was charged with Murder after he had been in a fight with a group of males and then chased their van. He continuously rammed into their van at high speed resulting in it crashing into a tree and killing the driver. He proceeded to trial and was found not guilty of Murder.
R-v-LH- Conspiracy to Commit Murder/ Possession of a Shotgun.
LH’s next door neighbour informed the police that she had an argument with LH who damaged her vehicle, the next day someone had knocked on her front door and when she went to open it someone wearing a balaclava shot at her with a shot gun, missed and hit her front door.
Police executed a search warrant at the house of LH. A shotgun was found in the loft wrapped in a black bag. LH’s fingerprints were recovered from the bag. The prosecution decided to offer no evidence on the day of trial.
R-v- AA, KA, – Birmingham Crown Court- Attempt Murder
We represented 3 brothers charged with Attempt Murder in a gymnasium. It’s alleged that they entered a gym and stabbed and hit the victim with hammers. They were identified by witnesses on an ID parade. They were acquitted after trial.
R-v- AI- Attempt Murder and Conspiracy to Commit GBH – Birmingham Crown Court
AI and others were charged with Attempt Murder and Conspiracy to Commit GBH with Intent. This incident was captured on CCTV showing AI and others in possession of a weapons [base-ball bats and samurai swords] running towards another group of males and attacking them, resulting in two members of the group suffering life threatening injuries, stabbing and shot gun wounds to the face. AI raised the defence of ‘Self Defence’ and was acquitted at trial.
R-GR- Murder – Warwick Justice Centre
GR and 8 others were charged with Murder. The victim had been stabbed and shot. The matter proceeded to trial and the defendant was acquitted.
Firearms
R-NH- Birmingham Crown Court- Possession of Firearms and Ammunition.
Police executed a search warrant at NH’s flat, where they recovered a shopping bag hidden in a cupboard which contained, 2 firearms, SIM card [belonging to NH] and bullet and shot gun cartridges. The fingerprints of NH were also recovered from the shopping bag. The case proceeded to trial and NH was found Not Guilty.
R-v- Southwark Crown Court – Possession of Imitation Firearm.
Client was captured on CCTV by neighbours pointing a shotgun at a group of youths on the street, when the police arrived, client stated it was a metal bar which could have been mistaken for a shotgun. No evidence offered on the day of trial.
R-v- RT- Birmingham Crown Court- Possession of Firearm
RT was arrested in the front passenger seat of a vehicle, found near to his feet was a man bag which contained a firearm. He plead not guilty and was acquitted after trial.
R-v-JT – Birmingham Crown Court – Possession of Firearm.
Officers received intelligence that firearms were stored in a storage unit. When they arrived they saw JT in a vehicle outside the unit, he was stopped and searched and a key was recovered from his pocket. The unit was searched and a MAC 10 submachine gun and shotguns were recovered. JT’s DNA was found on the pad lock to the unit. We represented JT at the police station and at Court. We served a defence statement and at the trial the prosecution offered no evidence.
R-NS- Birmingham Crown Court- Conspiracy to Possess Firearms with intent to cause fear of violence.
The defendant was charged with others for a Conspiracy to Possess a Firearm with Intent to Cause Fear of Violence. ‘Operation Granite’ was a complex investigation which focused on serious criminality including conspiracies to use firearms in public. The prosecution case is that, against the backdrop of a commercial dispute, the defendants engaged in and directed a campaign of violence against the directors/employees of McLaren Construction Ltd.
The investigation started in 2015 and concluded in 2019 when the defendants were charged.
The evidence against the defendant was circumstantial. The prosecution case relied on the attribution of mobile telephone numbers. We represented the client from the outset, when he was advised to give a no comment interview during his police interview. He was also advised not to give evidence during his trial. He disputed the phone attribution of the phone linking his phone to the incidents. The defendant was acquitted after trial.
DRUGS CONSPIRACY
R-v-MA- Birmingham Crown Court – Conspiracy to Import Heroin.
Operation Credibility was a drug conspiracy involving the importation of millions of pounds worth of Heroin into the UK in Lathe machines, the case was investigated by NCA. There were 10 defendants and the trial lasted for approx. 10 weeks.
R-N – Birmingham Crown Court- Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs
This was a conspiracy to supply Class A drugs to prisoners at various prisons around the country. This was a multi-handed case, the matter proceeded to trial and our client was acquitted of all charges.
R-v AM- Snaresbrook Crown Court – Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs.
Operation Tubzla was a drugs operation into criminal activities of the Newham Borough base ‘Woodrange Gang’ OCN, ranked as London’s 7th most harmful gang responsible for firearm and drug supply offences relating in Murder, serious injury and large-scale Drug A supply. This was a county lines drug case involving 6 defendants.
R-v- RC- Preston Crown Court- Conspiracy to Supply Class A Drugs.
Operation Horizon was an operation into the supply of Class A drugs namely Heroin and Crack Cocaine from a London based Organised Crime Group (OCG) into the Barrow in Furness area. This was a county line case involving 14 defendants.
R-v-IV – Warwick Justice Centre – Conspiracy to Supply Class A Drugs
Operation Edition relates to a conspiracy to Supply 192 Kilo’s of Class A Drugs [£12 million street value] . The drugs were transported from London to a unit in Leamington Spa where they were repackaged. There was a police surveillance resulting in the defendant being arrested.
R-v-MS – Wolverhampton Crown Court- Possession with Intent to Supply Class B drugs.
MS was arrested and charged after 3 kilos of cannabis was siezed and his fingerprint recovered from the plastic bag containing the drugs. An application to dismiss was submitted to the Judge and Prosecution at after Crown Court and the prosecution dropped the case before the hearing.
FRAUD
R-v- PA- Hull Crown Court- Conspiracy to Defraud- Duracell Case
This was the famous Duracell name was used in an elaborate scam to sell international rights to a non-existent energy drink.
A Bradford criminal solicitor was also involved in the trial who allegedly ‘nobbled’ witnesses and was filmed on camera handing over money to buy their silence.
5 firms based in Dubai, Hong Kong, Hungary and Iran paid exclusive international rights for the energy drinks which only existed in the form of dummy cans. The companies were victims of a carefully planned international advanced-fee fraud.
PA was acquitted after a re-trial. He was also awarded costs.
R-v- JC – Birmingham Crown Court- Fraud by Abuse of Position.
This case was investigated by City of London Police. JC was employed at AJ Ghallagher as a claims manager and made 112 fraudulent claims receiving a total of £511.486.90.
R-v- JO – Inner London Crown Court –
JO was charged with others with Money Laundering. This was a highly organised fraud utilising a compromised Gmail account of the Chief Investment Officer of a company based in London. Its alleged that his US$ bank account held with Credit Suisse in Zurich was compromised and instructions to the bank arranged for funds to UK bank accounts. The recipients then laundered the funds using multiple smaller transfers to an ever widening web of receivers. Financial enquiries revealed that 50 different UK bank accounts were utilised to disperse the proceeds of the fraud. A total of $1.3m USD had been stolen.
R-v- AM- Cardiff Crown Court
The defendant was charged with 9 others with Assisting Unlawful Immigration to the United Kingdom. The defendants provided false employment documentation to Immigration Sponsors in order that they could deceive the Home Office as to their financial circumstances, so as to assist the unlawful entry into the UK of the non-European Nationals who required visas to enter the UK.
The case centred around computer and mobile phone downloads.
Professional Memberships
Proceeds of Crime Lawyers Association (POCLA)
The Fraud Lawyers Association (FLA)
Mohammed Riaz has a national defence practice offering clients highly specialised and dedicated representation at all levels of the criminal justice system. He has appeared in Courts throughout England and Wales because of his ability to provide his lay and professional clients with outstanding legal knowledge, clearly focused and timely advice, and robust and effective advocacy. He offers unrivalled experience and ability in the defence of a wide range of serious and complex criminal cases.
His extensive experience of litigation covers a wide spectrum of cases; including homicide, firearms, serious sexual offences, large scale organised crime, kidnapping, armed robbery, human and drugs trafficking, money laundering and high value serious fraud. He is often instructed at the earliest stages of major investigations to give clients the benefit of his advice and assistance during what is often a critical stage in a criminal inquiry.
Mr Riaz is noted for his ability and judgment to quickly and reliably identify the real and decisive issues in ‘very heavy’ cases. He excels in offering clear, concise and tactically focused advice in the most complex and voluminous cases.
Over the years Amir has built up a vast body of knowledge in relation to the use and interpretation of scientific evidence including DNA, facial mapping, firearms residue and cell-site analysis as well as the presentation and analysis of complex medical evidence.
Homicide / Attempted Murder
Serious fraud / dishonesty
Drugs / Firearms
Sexual / Violent Crime
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