Direct Access Barrister

Samreen Akhtar

I am currently based at Aventus Chambers where my practice focuses almost exclusively on criminal law.

Having spent less than two years at the self-employed Bar, I have ranked in The Legal 500 consecutively and was appointed as a Social Mobility Advocate by The Bar Council in 2020.

I completed pupillage with the Crown Prosecution Service in 2016 and joined the self-employed Bar in 2019. This enabled me to build a thriving criminal defence practice nationally.

I have also written several articles concerning topical issues such as Unexplained Wealth Orders and the admissibility of evidence obtained from Encrochat devices.

Area of Law

Crime

Prosecution and defence instructions include: terrorism offences, drugs offences, sexual offences and violent offences

What sort of work do I do?

I accept defence instructions in the youth, magistrates’ and crown courts.

My practice encompasses the full range of criminal law including terrorism offences, drugs offences, sexual offences and violent offences.

I regularly appear in Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings for both the defence and interested third parties.

Previous Crown Prosecution Service instructions concerned Grade 3 work.

I have been instructed by national law firms to represent private clients charged with a variety of motoring offences, including:

Dangerous driving
Drink driving
Drug driving
Failing to stop
Speeding
Driving without due care and attention
No insurance
No licence
Mobile phone usage when driving

I have assisted several clients in retaining their driving licences and appealed both convictions and sentences successfully at the crown court.

Who do I work for?

Individuals and corporations who are charged and appear before the criminal courts as well as interested parties in Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings.

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