Three new tenants for SJB
We are delighted to announce that three new barristers are joining Chambers on successful completion of their pupillage. All have been approved by the...
Senior Clerk – Civil, Commercial & Employment
Assistant Senior Clerk
Civil Clerk
Civil Clerk
Aqeel is a specialist commercial barrister with a broad business and property practice. His core areas of specialism include commercial litigation, property and construction disputes, and professional negligence. He is regularly instructed in complex and high-value matters, frequently appearing in both the County Court and High Court.
Aqeel is often sought after at an early stage to provide strategic advice on merits, case strategy, pleadings, and evidence, though he is equally adept at stepping in closer to trial. His practice encompasses both claimant and defendant work and often involves technically or factually complex disputes, including those with multiple parties or overlapping legal issues.
Aqeel considers one of his principal strengths to be his courtroom advocacy, where he is calm under pressure, tactically astute, and unafraid to press difficult points when required. He prides himself on his growing reputation as a determined and resilient advocate.
Before joining St John’s Buildings, Aqeel worked as an Associate at a firm specialising in complex international dispute resolution and separately as a County Court advocate. These roles gave him exposure to high-value commercial disputes and frequent courtroom experience, strengthening his advocacy and insight into litigation in practice – experience which continues to inform his work at the Bar.
Aqeel acts in a wide range of commercial and chancery disputes, including contractual claims, partnership disputes, misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, claims involving trusts, equitable remedies, and the sale of goods and services. He is regularly instructed to advise on complex legal issues, draft pleadings and submissions, and appears at both interim and final hearings. His approach is commercially minded and outcome-driven, with a strong command of procedural strategy and a focus on identifying the most effective route, both legally and financially, to achieving the client’s objective.
Aqeel also has a growing interest in both public and private international law.
Recent work includes:
Aqeel acts in a wide range of property and construction disputes. His property work includes all aspects of landlord and tenant law – including possession claims, forfeiture, breach of lease, and disrepair – across both residential and commercial settings. In construction matters, he is regularly instructed in claims involving alleged defective works, unpaid sums, final accounts, and disputed variations. He is familiar with standard-form contracts (including JCT) and understands the commercial and practical context in which such disputes arise. He is also experienced in adjudication, mediation, and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.
Recent work includes:
Aqeel has a growing practice in professional negligence claims, particularly those arising from property, construction, and commercial matters. He has been instructed in claims against solicitors, surveyors, and other professionals. He is skilled at analysing legal and factual issues, advising on breach and causation, and framing claims to reflect both the legal and financial consequences of professional failings. His advice is thorough, strategic, and focused on early identifications of the strengths and weaknesses in a case.
Recent work includes:
Aqeel has experience in matters concerning data protection, privacy, and freedom of information. During pupillage, he gained exposure to this area under the supervision of Pépin Aslett, assisting with high-value litigation before the High Court. He has since advised on subject access requests, data breaches, and the unlawful retention or disclosure of personal data. He understands the nuances of this developing area and approaches such cases with clarity and precision.
Recent work includes:
Aqeel advises and acts in matters relating to consumer credit, guarantees, hire purchase agreements, and mortgage disputes. His work covers a broad range of issues within these fields, always with a focus on delivering practical and commercially sensible outcomes. He combines a detailed knowledge of the relevant law with an understanding of the real-world implications for clients.
Recent work includes: