Ayaz Qazi KC
Profile
Ayaz is a specialist criminal practitioner and exclusively defends. His practice has developed into one which is ‘serious crime’ heavy.
His cases routinely involve significant and sensitive issues of both fact and law. He has appeared in many high-profile matters, most notably R v Ahmed an honour-based killing which at the time was described in the Sunday Times Review as one of the most extraordinary cases of modern times.
His consistent excellence in Advocacy was recently recognised by his appointment to silk.
His recent workload has included:
R v MA 2020 – Gross Negligence Manslaughter
R V TM 2021 – Drive by shooting
R v AY 2022 – Multiple shootings / Murder / Attempted Murder
R V LH 2022 – Attempted Murder
R v EK 2023 – Rape
R v SA 2023 – Preparatory acts of Terrorism
R v BE 2023 – Petroleum related Duty Evasion
R v SA 2023 – Attempted Murder x 3
R v LH 2023 – Conspiracy to Supply Class A ( £1 billion )
R v DW 2024 – Duty Evasion
Throughout the last fifteen years of practice, Ayaz has regularly been instructed in cases like his recent workload. He has excelled in cases where the allegations have been of a sexual nature. His handling of vulnerable witnesses and conduct of sensitive cross examinations have been commended by the judiciary.
He has appeared for the defence in many of the gang related ‘grooming’ cases tried throughout England and Wales. He is a vulnerable witness trained advocate and routinely conducts s28 hearings.
In financial related crime he continues to receive instructions in complex frauds and particularly cases relating to the evasion of duty. He has substantial experience of cases presented with voluminous evidence. These have included MTIC Fraud where he has often appeared as case leader.
In 2023, appeared as case leader for the defence in a Prosecution involving the single largest seizure of Class A drugs in Yorkshire. The allegation of conspiracy to supply was valued in the region of a billion pounds. The negotiation to a much lesser offence after the Trial had commenced resulted in the Defendant receiving a term of imprisonment leading to his imminent release.
Ayaz is fluent in Urdu and Punjabi.
Expertise
Ayaz is experienced in the full range of Sexual Offences before the Courts. These include more recent and historical allegations often involving vulnerable witnesses. He is trained in vulnerable witness handling and regularly deals with the examination of child witnesses in such cases.
In recent years instructions have been in respect of cases where sexual exploitation has alleged to have taken place by the targeting of vulnerable witnesses by groups. These cases have often attracted considerable publicity. In the past Ayaz has been instructed in group related offending said to have occurred in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Peterborough and South Yorkshire.
He is currently involved defending in numerous indictments prosecuted by the National Crime Agency and the CPS. Notably, he is currently instructed in ‘Operation Stovewood’, an intense and targeted investigation devoted to the investigation of offences said to have taken place in Rotherham.
Often instructed in wide ranging allegations relating to Organised Crime Groups where often the deployment of County Lines offending is alleged. Has appeared in many importation and conspiracy allegations over the last twenty years. These have often included the exploitation of vulnerable individuals to participate in such crimes often resulting in their referrals and classification as trafficked individuals.
Ayaz has been instructed and retains instructions in respect of complex immigration related offending. These include the facilitation of and trafficking of foreign nationals. His experience includes the most complex and detailed investigations often undertaken by various agencies. These include the National Crime Agency, UK Border Agency, CPS and the Home Office.
Has appeared in some significant homicide cases. These have included allegations of gross negligence manslaughter and Murder. He is currently instructed in at least four homicide cases due for trial in 2021.
Recommendations
Appointments/Memberships
- Grays Inn
- Criminal Bar Association