Abbas Lakha KC > 9BR Chambers > London, England > Lawyer Profile
9BR Offices

9BR
11/12 South Square, Gray's Inn
London
WC1R 5EY
England
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Abbas Lakha KC

Position
Abbas Lakha QC is widely regarded as one of the UK’s most successful and respected leading silks, with a heavyweight practice which encompasses a broad range of specialist areas. He is regularly instructed to advise upon and defend in the most challenging and high profile cases. He is particularly sought after to advise in International financial crime cases, representing clients both in the UK and around the world.
He is retained as a Consultant to the Sabra Defence team in the Hague, who are defending an accused alleged to have been complicit in the assassination of the Lebanese Prime Minister, Mr. Rafik Hariri.
Abbas has experience in all forms of Civil and Criminal Fraud and asset forfeiture work, including restraint and confiscation, and appears before the Tax Tribunals (First Tier and Upper Tier) in respect of VAT and Tax cases. He is highly respected for his advocacy, his attention to detail and his negotiating skills. Regularly instructed to advise at the pre-investigative stages of cases, Abbas has extensive experience of representing high profile individuals for whom reputation management is a significant concern.
Rated in Chambers UK and Legal 500 directories as a leader in the fields of international crime, murder, terrorism, financial crime and asset forfeiture, Abbas Lakha QC is noted for his detailed preparation, incisive examination and strong jury advocacy. He is particularly skilled in handling international money laundering cases, bribery and corruption prosecutions, VAT frauds, missing trader frauds and insider dealing cases.
Career
Queens Counsel (2003)
Bencher of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple (2009)
Inspector for the Department of Trade and Industry (2000)
The Criminal Bar Association of England & Wales Co-opted Committee Member
The Bar Council of England & Wales VHCC Fees Committee
Member of the Crime Editorial Board of LexisNexis
Languages
Gujerati, Swahili.
Memberships
The Bar Council of England and Wales,
The Criminal Bar Association
The European Criminal Bar Association
International Bar Association
The International Criminal Defence Attorneys Association
The Society of Asian Lawyers
The Society of Black Lawyers
Education
BA (Hons), Leeds Beckett University, 1980–83
Barrister at Law, Bar School, Council of Legal Education, 1983–84
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Crime
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 3Abbas Lakha KC – 9BR Chambers – ‘Abbas is a very good criminal silk and he knows his way around difficult crime areas.’
With ‘excellent range of counsel for general and serious crime’, the set at 9BR defend and prosecute on a full range of serious crime matters, from murder and sexual offences to trafficking and modern slavery. Anthony Berry KC defended in a concerned the stabbing of an NHS worker during the COVID-19 lockdown. Abbas Lakha KC represented an alleged Swedish hitman accused of the Christmas Eve contract killing of a drug trade rival. Jane Bickerstaff KC is representing Louis Saha Matturie (no relation to the former Fulham striker), who is accused alongside Manchester City left-back Benjamin Mendy of committing multiple counts of rape.
London Bar > Fraud: crime
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 3Abbas Lakha KC – 9BR Chambers ‘Abbas is an exceptional advocate. He presents his case in a clear and passionate manner. Clients are left in no doubt that he is defending their interests. He prepares his cases thoroughly and is extremely hard-working.’