Ashraf Khan
- Honourable Society of the Middle Temple
- Midland Circuit
- South Eastern Circuit
- Criminal Bar Association
- Panel of Defence Counsel at the International Criminal Court
- International Criminal Bar Association
- Dubai International Finance Centre
- ADR Group Accredited Civil and Commercial Mediator
- LL.B (Hons)
- LL.M.
- Bar Vocational Diploma
- Direct Access Qualified
- “Ashraf combines meticulous preparation with excellent client skills and a particularly persuasive style of advocacy.’” Legal 500 2023 (Crime/Fraud)
- “Has strong knowledge of the law and brings broad, tactical vision to his cases. He is deservedly busy in silk-level work despite being a junior.” Chambers & Partners 2023
- “Ashraf’s strengths lie in meticulous attention to detail. He is certainly tipped to take silk in the next few years by many senior members of the Bar.” “Ashraf is a highly skilled advocate who prepares cases thoroughly and presents a forceful case before the court.” Legal 500 2022
- “He has the ability to quickly instil a degree of courage in his clients.” Chambers & Partners 2022
- “He’s exceptionally talented and an extremely able barrister due to his grasp of the law and sensible approach to the jury. He can outshine leading silks on his day.” Chambers & Partners 2021
- “He is a particularly strong junior in serious crime and fraud. He has dry wit that can wither any hostile witness testimony with ease. He has a huge practice nationally in complex crime. A very safe pair of hands” Legal 500 2020
- “Highly sought after for his calm and collective approach which is never anything but measured. He is well received by clients, fellow professionals and the judiciary.” “He is meticulous in his preparation and presents his cases well before the court.” Chambers & Partners 2020
- “Has a great eye for detail” Legal 500 2019
- “Advises on serious financial crime matters. Regularly defends cases of mortgage, tax and investment fraud” Legal 500 2018
- “Recognised for advising on serious financial crime matters. He regularly defends cases of mortgage, tax and investment fraud… His written work is particularly good.” Chambers & Partners 2017
- “Particularly noted for his expertise in cartel investigations, insider dealing and rate fixing matters. He routinely represents large corporations and individuals.” Chambers & Partners 2016
- “His calm persona can cut through complex issues with ease.” Legal 500 2016
- “Has a nationwide financial crime practice and is regularly instructed to defend in complex fraud cases…has an A to Z knowledge of fraud work.” Chambers & Partners 2015
- “Often has the prosecution running around in circles.” Legal 500 2015
Instructing Ashraf Khan
To instruct Ashraf or for any further information please contact our clerks.
Clerk: John Grimmer
Telephone: +44 (0)7776 154 664
Email: Click here
Ashraf Khan specialises in business crime and regulation, professional discipline, health and safety and inquests. With a reputation for providing outstanding representation across all his practice areas, Ashraf routinely appears in some of the most complex and demanding cases across the country.
He is particularly noted for his ability to successfully navigate through difficult and sensitive cases with careful efficiency and ease. Given his profile, Solicitors often instruct Ashraf in highly contentious proceedings which require intense preparation and skilled presentation in court. He is regularly engaged in the early stages of major investigations to give clients the benefit of his strategic advice and assistance during what is often a critical stage.
Ashraf’s clients include regulators; professionals facing misconduct proceedings, particularly those who work in the medical and health care profession; organisations; companies, directors and shareholders; and high net worth individuals looking for sensitive advice and representation to protect their reputation and business affairs.
Ashraf’s substantial experience as an advocate has also equipped well to accept instructions from interested parties involved in inquests; where a calm and sensitive approach is required, balanced with an authoritative and firm examination of evidence.
Ashraf is frequently cited by the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners Directory as a leading Barrister. Observations and commentary include:
“Ashraf combines meticulous preparation with excellent client skills and a particularly persuasive style of advocacy.”
“Has strong knowledge of the law and brings broad, tactical vision to his cases. He is deservedly busy in silk-level work despite being a junior.”
“Ashraf’s strengths lie in meticulous attention to detail. He is certainly tipped to take silk in the next few years by many senior members of the Bar.” “Ashraf is a highly skilled advocate who prepares cases thoroughly and presents a forceful case before the court.”
“He has the ability to quickly instil a degree of courage in his clients.”
“He’s exceptionally talented and an extremely able barrister due to his grasp of the law and sensible approach to the jury. He can outshine leading silks on his day.”
“He is a particularly strong junior…. He has dry wit that can wither any hostile witness testimony with ease. He has a huge practice nationally….. A very safe pair of hands”
“Highly sought after for his calm and collective approach which is never anything but measured. He is well received by clients, fellow professionals and the judiciary. He is meticulous in his preparation and presents his cases well before the court.”
Ashraf accepts instructions under the Direct Access Scheme and is authorised to conduct litigation. He is also an accredited Civil & Commercial Mediator, a registered Lawyer with the Football Association (FA) and a registered practitioner at the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC). He is also approved to conduct cases at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Practice Areas
Ashraf offers clients highly specialised and dedicated representation at all levels of the criminal justice system. He has appeared in Courts throughout England and Wales in cases of the highest national profile. He provides his lay and professional clients with outstanding legal knowledge, clearly focused and timely advice, and robust and effective advocacy.
Ashraf offers exceptional experience and ability in the defence of a wide range of serious and complex criminal cases involving serious organised crime; all forms of homicide, particularly gang related executions; serious violence and public disorder; large scale drug trafficking; terrorism; blackmail; kidnapping; and armed robbery.
Over the years, Ashraf has gained substantial expertise in dealing with the use and interpretation of scientific evidence, including DNA; facial mapping; firearms residue; cell-site analysis; and complex medical evidence.
Notable Cases:
- Operation Ardeonnaig: South London gang machine gun shooting.
- Operation Avalanche: Gang related execution over drugs territory.
- Operation Landseer: Gang related execution killing.
- Operation Baritone: Gang related execution killing.
- Operation Movate: Gang related public disorder and attempted murder.
- Operation Chapletown: Gang related murder where prosecution offered no evidence against the client after legal argument 8 weeks into the trial.
- Operation Poppy: Executions carried out by gangs in Liverpool at war over drugs territory.
- Operation Filey: High profile planned murder by a pharmacist of his wife.
- R v WC & 3 Others: Murder of a man alleged to have abused young children
- R v GW: Causing the death of elderly man during the course of a burglary.
- R v LW: High profile murder in Middlesbrough involving gang related execution and drugs.
- R v DC: Defending man who strangled his ex-girlfriend to death in a secluded woodland park in Birmingham during sexual intercourse.
- R v MH: Murder of vulnerable adult by a gang of youths.
- R v SSM & 5 Others: Highest profile honour killing case to date. Successfully defended the only defendant charged with the honour killing of Benaz Mahmod.
- R v RR: Defendant charged with gang related murder over a drugs dispute.
- R v FK & 8 Others: Gangland shooting over drugs dispute.
- R v BS: Attempted Murder of husband.
- R v AH, MH & Others: Attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm and violent disorder.
- R v DH & Others: drugs related gangland execution.
- R v BT: Attempted Murder of her husband.
- R v AO: Gang related violent disorder resulting in death of 3 men.
- R v RL & Another: Father and son charged with murder of their wife/ mother and perverting the course of public justice.
- R v SC: Unprovoked murder of a stranger.
- R v G & Others: Multi handed gang murder.
- Operation Venetic/Oberon: International drug trafficking.
- Operation Vermont: International drug trafficking.
- Operation Clubman: International drug trafficking involving cocaine in excess of 200kg.
- Operation Jericho: Large scale drug trafficking.
- Operation Washington: Large scale conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
- R v GH & 18 Others: Large scale conspiracy to supply Class A controlled drugs.
- Operation Frank: Large scale importation and supply of Class A controlled drugs.
- Operation Alamos: Large scale importation and supply of Class A controlled drugs.
- Operation Penshurst: Large scale importation and supply of Class A controlled drugs.
- Operation Ebony/Brisbane: International drug trafficking.
- Operation Heptagon: Armed robbery.
- Operation Marble: Firearms supply
- Operation Iron: Conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, Police corruption and misconduct in public office.
- R v AG and Others – Armed robbery of high value items from a distribution centre.
- R v MW & 8 Others: Conspiracy to Import and Supply Class A drugs worth £6.6 million.
- R v MS & 8 Others: Conspiracy to Supply Class A and Money Laundering.
- R v PS & 11 Others: Large-scale conspiracy to facilitate illegal immigration from the UK into Canada.
- R v MR & 6 Others: Client alleged to be part of a highly organised crime group facilitating illegal immigration from Bangladesh.
- R v IM & 35 Others: Representing one of the main defendants in one of the largest drugs conspiracies prosecuted in the Midlands.
- R v DJ & 12 Others: Instructed to represent the defendant charged with evading duty on cigarettes on a substantial scale.
- Operation Manifest: Defending in large scale and highly organised drugs conspiracy involving organised crime group in Sheffield and Nottingham supplying drugs to North East of England. Defendant acquitted of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
- R v S & 8 Others: Defending one of the lead defendants in a multi-million drug trafficking case involving a sophisticated organised criminal group based in North East England.
- R v JW & 8 Others: Representing one of the main defendants in this large scale drugs conspiracy involving millions of pounds of heroin. Defendant acquitted.
- R v OO & 15 Others: Representing one of the defendants charged with conspiracy to facilitate sham marriages between British Nationals and nationals of an African origin for significant profit.
- Operation Tartrate: Representing one of the defendants charged with evading duty of cigarette importation on a substantial scale.
- R v PW & 7 Others: Representing lead defendant charged with conspiracy to facilitate illegal immigration on a large scale.
- R v N & 23 Others: Client charged with supply of controlled drugs on commercial scale. Case also linked to a separate but linked murder trial.
- R v E & Others: Defence counsel in large-scale conspiracy to import/export class A drugs and money laundering valued at over £80 million. Case stayed as a result of successful abuse of process application.
- R v RB & Others: Multiple rape, kidnapping, false imprisonment and assault.
- Operation Harehill: High profile CSE case in the North West of England
- Operation Span: The highest profile CSE case to date.
Ashraf is a fraud defence specialist. He provides advice and representation in some of the largest and most complex fraud cases to come before the Courts in the country. He specialises in advising and representing corporate and individual clients across the full range of white collar criminal offences, business crime, and related regulatory proceedings.
Ashraf’s services are often called upon at the earliest stage of a fraud investigation to assist in active case management. Due to the sheer size of the fraud alleged and the volume of documents involved, he often works within a team of specialist lawyers and forensic accountants during the preparatory stages.
Ashraf has experience of a wide spectrum of the business crime or regulatory issues which can face companies or individuals, including criminal anti-competitive behaviour (cartels, insider dealing, market abuse, LIBOR and other foreign exchange rate), Fraud (including Revenue (VAT and excise/duty diversion), mortgage, carbon credit trading, banking/fraudulent trading, factoring, MTIC/Carousel, boiler room, land banking, money laundering and “Ponzi” schemes) and Intellectual property crime.
Notable Cases:
- Operation Warbird: Substantial fraud on HM Government Department
- Operation Abundant: Multi million pound MTIC fraud
- Operation Hyperion: multi million pound money laundering.
- Operation Nightjar 2: Multimillion pound money laundering
- Operation Hornet: large scale fraud and tax evasion
- Operation Dublin: Complex Trading Standards prosecution into fraud, tax evasion and money laundering.
- Operation Supertop: £53 million international money laundering.
- Operation Yates: Multi million pound money laundering linked to major drugs trafficking conspiracy in North East England.
- Operation Lever: Alleged multi million pound International Revenue Share Fraud on mobile phone industry.
- RE: AW: Investigation into a multimillion pound insider dealing syndicate carried out by the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF).
- R v EA and others: High value fraud on lending institutions and banks.
- R v RS: High value Tax fraud.
- R v PS & 8 Others: Multi million pound conspiracy to defraud Banks.
- Operation Coil: Defence of a mortgage broker charged with conspiracy to defraud lenders in excess of £1.6 million.
- Operation Thatcham: Instructed to defend in a large-scale conspiracy to defraud Insurance companies.
- Operation Lollipop: Defence of man accused of large-scale conspiracy to defraud insurance companies.
- Operate Savate: Instructed to represent the lead defendant, a company director, in allegation of direct and indirect tax fraud within the construction industry. This case has been described at the largest construction fraud to be prosecuted to date.
- Operation Bamburgh: Instructed to represent one of the main defendants in what has been described as the largest mortgage fraud to be prosecuted to date.
- Operation Nacho: Instructed to represent one of the principal defendants. This case has been described as the largest ‘cash for crash’ fraud ever prosecuted in the country. The allegation involves a large-scale fraud on insurance companies through false/exaggerated accident and personal injury claims.
- R v NC & 4 Others: Representing defendant charged with fraudulent trading on a substantial scale.
- Operation Enigma: Client alleged to be part of a £200 million international money laundering crime syndicate.
- R v TP & 6 Others: Trading Standards prosecution of organised crime group involved in large scale counterfeit goods fraud.
- R v AD & 17 Others: Instructed to represent defendant charged with large-scale ‘cash for crash’ insurance fraud.
- R v MG & 5 Others: Represented one of the principal defendants (a professional banker) charged with laundering the proceeds of her father’s cheat on the public revenue which ran into millions.
- Operation Anerley: Representing the lead defendant as leading junior in this multi-million pound mortgage fraud.
- R v JP & 4 Others: Representing defendant charged with £1 million money laundering. The source of the money alleged to by the proceeds of drug trafficking.
- R v MC & 6 Others: Representing lead defendant in a £100 million steel fraud.
- Operation Pompeii: Representing one of the defendants in a multi-million pound mortgage fraud.
- R v MA & 20 Others: Substantial fraud on insurance industry.
- R v IH & 8 Others: Substantial MTIC (Missing Trader) fraud.
- Operation Jericho: Multi million pound money laundering resulting from proceeds of crime generated via drug trafficking.
- R v PJ & 5 Others: Represented acquitted defendant of multi million pound fraud.
- Operation Euripus: Representing first defendant on the indictment in what was described at the largest MTIC fraud ever prosecuted by Revenue and Customs at the time.
- R v FA & 8 Others: International £144 million fraud perpetrated against Virgin media.
- R v RJ & Others: ‘Advance Fee Fraud’. Client charged with conspiracy to defraud. Case involved large scale operation instigated by the West Midlands Police Organised Crime Unit, the Home Office and the Organised Crime Squad of West Africa.
- R v MT & Others: Representing lead defendant and company director of a time share company charged with conspiracy to defraud in excess of £1 million.
- R v WK & Others: Representing lead defendant charged conspiracy to defraud and alleged to be the lead conspirator in defrauding banks and other lending institutions of substantial sums of money.
Ashraf is the first choice of counsel for many solicitors across the country and lay clients who need dedicated and effective representation for the most serious criminal allegation. Most of Ashraf’s instructions in homicide cases have involved gang related executions and contract killings.
Ashraf has extensive experience of working within a team of specialised lawyers who are dedicated to investing time and effort into the case in order to ensure that every aspect of the prosecution’s case is scrutinised so that every aspect of the prosecution’s case is tested before the jury.
When presenting the defence case, client’s and solicitors feel reassured knowing that everything is being done to ensure the defence is presented in the best possible light to the jury. Ashraf has extensive experience of guiding client’s through difficult murder cases strategically and successfully.
Often in gang related cases issues of admissibility, disclosure, causation, joint enterprise, cut-throat, bad character and hearsay arise. Ashraf has substantial experience of managing cases of this kind. He also has a track record of working with experts for the defence when the expertise/accuracy/integrity of prosecution experts are challenged.
Notable Cases:
- Operation Ardeonnaig: South London gang machine gun shooting.
- Operation Avalanche: Gang related execution over drugs territory.
- Operation Landseer: Gang related execution killing.
- Operation Baritone: Gang related execution killing.
- Operation Movate: Gang related public disorder and attempted murder.
- Operation Chapletown: Gang related murder where prosecution offered no evidence against the client after legal argument 8 weeks into the trial.
- Operation Poppy: Executions carried out by gangs in Liverpool at war over drugs territory.
- Operation Filey: High profile planned murder by a pharmacist of his wife.
- R v WC & 3 Others: Murder of a man alleged to have abused young children
- R v GW: Causing the death of elderly man during the course of a burglary.
- R v LW: High profile murder in Middlesbrough involving gang related execution and drugs.
- R v DC: Defending man who strangled his ex-girlfriend to death in a secluded woodland park in Birmingham during sexual intercourse.
- R v MH: Murder of vulnerable adult by a gang of youths.
- R v SSM & 5 Others: Highest profile honour killing case to date. Successfully defended the only defendant charged with the honour killing of Benaz Mahmod.
- R v RR: Defendant charged with gang related murder over a drugs dispute.
- R v FK & 8 Others: Gangland shooting over drugs dispute.
- R v BS: Attempted Murder of husband.
- R v AH, MH & Others: Attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm and violent disorder.
- R v DH & Others: drugs related gangland execution.
- R v BT: Attempted Murder of her husband.
- R v AO: Gang related violent disorder resulting in death of 3 men.
- R v RL & Another: Father and son charged with murder of their wife/ mother and perverting the course of public justice.
- R v SC: Unprovoked murder of a stranger.
- R v G & Others: Multi handed gang murder.
Ashraf has a successful Regulatory and Professional Discipline practice. His experience as an advocate in the higher criminal courts has given him give the requisite balance of skills required to undertake this type of work in both and advisory and adversarial role.
Ashraf has experience in representing clients before a range of professional regulatory bodies and tribunals, including HCPTS, Bar Standards Board, Solicitors Regulation Authority, Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, General Medical Council, Nurses and Midwifery Council, General Dental Council and the Financial Conduct Authority.
Recent work includes:
- Appearing before the GMC interim orders panel.
- Successfully representing a Barrister before the Bar Standards Board charged serious professional misconduct.
- Advising a prominent solicitor in relation to breach of SRA rules.
- Defending a health care worker before the HCPTS charged with mistreating her patient. She was cleared of all wrong-doing.
- Representing a city trader investigated for breaching stock exchange regulations. He was cleared of all matters under investigation.
Ashraf is available to take on instructions in cases which impact on the following professionals:
- Barristers.
- Solicitors.
- Accountants.
- Health and Social Care professionals, including Doctors and Surgeons, Nurses, Midwives, all types of therapists, Dentists, Pharmacists and Psychologists.
- Financial services providers, including Bankers, Financial Advisors and Investment Advisors.
- Teachers.
- Surveyors.
- Architects.
- Structural and Civil Engineers.
Ashraf’s experience as a leading criminal Barrister has equipped him with the necessary skill set required to focus on developing a strong Professional Discipline and Regulatory law practice. He offers high quality practical legal advice and representation from initial hearings all the way through to final hearings, appeals and judicial review challenges He currently advises and represents individuals, businesses and regulators in professional disciplinary and regulatory hearings across a wide range of sectors.
Heath and Social Care Sector
Ashraf has developed an interest in the health and social care sector and accepts instructions in proceedings involving the major regulators including the General Medical Council (GMC), Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), General Dental Council (GDC), Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), General Pharmaceutical Council (GPC), Social Work England (SWE), General Optical Council (GOC) and the General Chiropractic Council (GCC).
Ashraf is approved Special Counsel for the NMC. He also regularly presents on behalf of the GDC and sits as an Independent Legal Advisor assisting the Fitness to Practise Hearings Panel at the General Optical Council.
Recent instructions include:
- Appearing on behalf of the GDC before the interim orders panel.
- Appearing on behalf of the GMC before the interim orders panel.
- Representing a Social worker appearing before the fitness to practice panel at Social Work England.
- Advising a hospital doctor in relation to an appeal against an adverse fitness to practise and impairment finding.
- Successfully representing a Barrister before the Bar Standards Board charged serious professional misconduct.
- Advising a prominent solicitor in relation to breach of SRA rules.
- Successfully defending a health care worker before the HCPTS charged with mistreating a patient.
Sports Sector
Ashraf has wide ranging experience of dealing with disciplinary hearings within the sports sector. He sits as a panel member for UK Athletics and has recently represented a high profile gymnasium and its coaches facing allegations of misconduct made by UK Gymnastics before the Independent Case Panel.
Legal Sector
Ashraf successfully defended a senior Barrister facing over 200 allegations of misconduct made by the BSB. All charges were dismissed. He also advuised a high-profile solicitor facing disciplinary action before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Financial Sector
Ashraf successfully represented a high-net-worth individual charged with insider trading by the AMF, the French financial regulator. All allegations were dismissed.
Ashraf practices in coronial law. He has a certificate in Coronial Law awarded by the Centre for Contemporary Coronial Law from the University of Bolton; a highly respected course endorsed by the Chief Coroner’s office. This period of training gave Ashraf further in-depth understanding of modern-day coronial law and practice, as well as vital training for properly managing interested parties and sensitively navigating through a Coroner’s inquest.
Chambers and Partners 2021 describes him as “exceptionally talented and an extremely able barrister due to his grasp of the law and sensible approach to the jury..”
Chambers and Partners 2020 described Ashraf as “highly sought after for his calm and collective approach which is never anything but measured. He is well received by clients, fellow professionals and the judiciary.” “He is meticulous in his preparation and presents his cases well before the court.”
The Legal 500 says “his calm persona can cut through complex issues with ease.”
