Ali is a solicitor with over 20 years qualified experience. He specialises in defending in professional misconduct, defending in criminal investigations and court proceedings, criminal record deletion, trading standards cases for both individuals and companies, and financial crime matters including cash forfeiture and money laundering. Ali’s work is privately funded by his clients, verified third parties, insurance companies or trade unions. Ali is a natural advocate who is empathetic, creative and tactical.
Regulatory & Professional Misconduct
Ali is a recommended lawyer for Professional Misconduct in Legal 500, 2019 and 2020 editions, recognising his “longstanding expertise in acting for clients being investigated or facing disciplinary action”.
Ali is highly experienced in both regulatory preparation and advocacy, having personally conducted hearings before the General Dental Council, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal, the Health and Care Professions Council, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, the Bar Tribunal & Adjudication Service and the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists.
Ali’s notable work includes:
- Representation and final hearing advocacy of an NHS Consultant at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal in 2025-2026. Following an argument with two colleagues, Ali’s client admitted to Harassment and Direct Discrimination. After a contested factual hearing as to the precise words said, followed by submissions on Fitness to Practise and Sanction, Ali’s client was suspended for three months without a review.
- Representation and interim stage advocacy at the General Dental Council defending alleged fraudulent activity. The allegation spanned nine years and three separate dental practices of a Principal Dentist. In the criminal sphere, the defence case succeeded in 2020, but GDC then brought proceedings arising from the same facts. These proceedings are expected to conclude in late 2026. Ali’s client has continued running his Practice without conditions between 2020 to 2026.
- Representing a barrister (including advocacy) before the Bar Tribunal & Adjudication Service. Ali’s client admitted driving whilst almost four times over the drink drive limit. Ali’s client received a financial penalty from the BTAS, 2023-2024.
- Ali represented a young solicitor described as the ‘right-hand man’ to former Principal of collapsed giant Axiom Ince Solicitors. Ali’s client was investigated by the SRA and then Ali accompanied him to a mandatory interview at the Serious Fraud Office. It was confirmed that Ali’s client would face no disciplinary action, 2023-2025.
- Successful appeal against an SRA decision to publish a Rule 43 decision about a trainee solicitor, 2022.
- Successful appeal (including advocacy) against a GDC decision not to recognise the dental qualifications and experience of an Indian national as equivalent to those of the UK, 2022.
- Representing a London post-graduate physiotherapy student in two allegations of sexual misconduct and failure to disclose this to his university. Ali’s client was ultimately permitted to continue his studies, 2022.
- Successfully representing (including advocacy) a Psychotherapist accused of bullying a student in a contested hearing before the Professional Conduct Panel of the BACP in 2021.
Criminal Defence
- Ali has defended a plethora of violent and sexual allegations including death by dangerous driving, rape, kidnap and false imprisonment. Ali has also defended in large-scale and complex fraud investigations and trials. Ali is a thorough and creative Magistrates’ Court advocate.
- Ali was ranked as an individual in Chambers & Partners for Crime in 2020, 2021, 2022. In 2023, Ali was ranked in Individuals: Band 4. At Saunders Law, despite not undertaking legal aid work, the Saunders Crime department was ranked in 2026 by Legal 500 in Band 5. Legal Directory quotes about Ali include:
- “A strong reputation as a criminal defence practitioner for crime”
- “This man cares deeply about his clients, his firm, and his profession”
- "He brings an incisive and thoughtful approach to his cases”
- Ali has developed and trained his team as specialists in counter-investigation, particularly where the police or CPS have taken the word of a complainant as ‘true’ whilst disregarding either potential defences or material inconsistent with their case.
Recent Highlights
- In 2025, Ali represented a prominent London politician in defending false allegations of rape. Ali contacted numerous media outlets and bloggers to protect his client’s right to pre-charge privacy. The matter was NFA’d by police and did not impact Ali’s client’s career.
- In 2025-2026, Ali represented a man charged with breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order. It was alleged that he had breached the Order by deleting parts of his internet history. Without the assistance of a defence expert, Ali demonstrated to the CPS that the police analyst had misunderstood how the messaging app Telegram works. The prosecution was discontinued.
Appeal Work
- 2016: Fresh evidence appeal following a rape conviction in 2012. The appeal was allowed. In 2017, the Prosecution offered no evidence at retrial.
- 2006: Successful appeal against conviction on whether a person is legally in possession of deleted computer files.
Recent Media Work
- Ali was interviewed by Stacey Dooley for her two-part documentary Rape on Trial, broadcast by the BBC in March 2025. Click Here
- Ali was interviewed by BBC London News in relation to the Palestine Action Protests in August 2025 Click Here