Areas of Expertise
- With over a decade of experience as a broad-ranging civil practitioner, Bilal has particular expertise in the following areas:
- Chancery
- Property and Housing
- Landlord and Tenant
- Family Law – Children and Finance
- Bankruptcy and insolvency
- Professional Negligence
- Personal injury
- Breach of Contract
- Costs
Bilal is regularly instructed in leading and high-profile cases, acting for both Claimants and Defendants. He accepts instructions across the full spectrum, from interim applications to Multi-Track trials and costs hearings. Bilal appears in courts at all levels throughout England and Wales.
Languages
Bilal is fluent is Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi and is happy to liaise with clients in these languages.
Privacy Policy
- This is a privacy notice that describes how, why and for how long I will process or keep your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (‘GDPR’).
- The GDPR governs how an individual’s personal data is used, and your rights in relation to that data.
- I, William Knapman, have been instructed by you or your litigation friend (usually a parent), through your solicitor or agent, or via the Bar Pro Bono Unit.
- It is necessary for me to process your personal data in order for me to provide you with legal services, for example:
- Advise on the prospects of litigation;
- Advise on the value of your claim;
- Representation at a court hearing;
- Representation at trial;
- Advise, review or comment on legal issues or evidence.
- Processing means anything done to data such as: recording, organising, adapting, altering, copying, consulting, transmitting, combining, erasing or storing it.
- The processing for the purposes listed above will take place in accordance with either Article 6(1)(a) GDPR or Article 6(1)(b) GDPR, depending on how you instructed me.
- If you have instructed me on a direct access basis, or engaged a solicitor (or legal agent), to assist you in bringing or defending a claim then the processing is necessary to perform a contract to which you are a party (Article 6(1)(b) GDPR). To give effect to that contract (i.e. to bring a claim) it is necessary for me to process your personal data for litigation purposes.
- If I am assisting you on a pro bono basis, it will be necessary for me to seek your consent to be able to represent you (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR). In this scenario, you will be sent a consent form.
- Recipients of your data
- I may also be required to share your data with others, depending on the nature of your case. This may include:
- (i) Courts and other tribunals to whom documents are presented;
- (ii) Your solicitors, or agent representing you, through whom I have been instructed;
- (iii) Potential witnesses, experts and other persons involved in the case;
- (iv) Solicitors, barristers, or other legal representatives;
- (v) Ombudsman and regulatory authorities;
- (vi) Education and examining bodies; and
- (vii) Current, past or prospective employers.
- Special Categories of Data
- In some cases I will have been given your personal data that is within the ‘special categories’ of data described in GDPR Article 9(1). For example, personal data that reveals your race, ethnicity, sexual preferences, political or religious beliefs, trade union membership or health. There are also restrictions for processing information regarding criminal convictions.
- This type of personal data will only be processed where it is necessary in order to represent you in your legal claim, or advise on the prospects of a legal claim.
- Retention
- I will retain your personal data for no longer than is necessary, and where it is possible, I will anonymise your data.
- How long your personal data is kept will depend on a number of factors. The retention period will be reviewed when the service I am providing you with is complete. However in general, I am obliged by the Bar Code of Conduct to retain records of my cases, and by HM Revenue and Customs to retain records for 6 years.
- Once your case has concluded and fees have been paid, I shall retain only the personal data necessary for the following purposes:
- (i) The legal and professional obligation to retain information relating to my cases;
- (ii) To check for any potential conflict of interests that may arise in the future when I am instructed on other cases;
- (iii) For use in the defence of potential complaints, legal proceedings or fee disputes;
- (iv) To refer back to in future cases which raise similar legal, factual, or procedural issues.
- The processing for the purposes listed in paragraph 14 (ii), (iii), and (iv) above, will take place in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) GDPR. That is, for the purposes of legitimate interests that are not outweighed by your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms.
- The processing for the purposes listed in paragraph 14(i) above, will take place in accordance with Article 6(1)(c) GDPR. That is, the processing is necessary for me to comply with a legal obligation.
- Your Rights
- Where processing of your personal data was based on your consent (see paragraphs 6 and 8) you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. This does not affect the lawfulness of the processing based on consent before its withdrawal.
- Withdrawal of your consent to process such data will most likely mean that I am no longer able to provide you with the legal services you seek.
- You may request confirmation that your personal data is being processed by me and details about the personal data, the source, the processing, the purposes of the processing, the recipients and the retention period.
- You may request a copy of your personal data that is being processed by me. You may also request rectification (i.e. correction) where there are inaccuracies in the personal data.
- You have the right to object, on grounds relating to your particular situation, at any time, to processing of your personal data in paragraph 14 of this privacy notice. Should you object, the processing will only continue where there are compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override your fundamental rights, freedoms and interests.
- Where the processing or retention of your data is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims, it will not be possible to object.
- You have the right to request that your personal data is erased where any of the following apply:
- (i) The personal data are no longer necessary in relation to the purposes for which they were collected or otherwise processed;
- (ii) You withdraw your consent where the basis of processing was based on consent and where there is no other ground for the processing;
- (iii) Where your fundamental rights, freedoms and interests override the legitimate interests of processing in paragraph 14;
- (iv) The personal data has been unlawfully processed; or
- (v) The personal data have to be erased to comply with a legal obligation.
- You have the right to request that your personal data is restricted from processing, so that it is simply stored, for the following reasons: as an alternative to deletion; so that it can be corrected; for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims; to verify if a legitimate ground exists (paragraph 14).
- Where it is necessary to correct your personal data, or you have requested the restriction or erasure of your personal data, I shall endeavour to contact the recipients of the personal data, unless this involves disproportionate effort.
- Security
- I take appropriate physical and technical procedures to safeguard your personal data to prevent it from being accidentally lost, used or accessed in an unauthorised way.
- Complaints or Queries
- If you have any questions regarding this privacy notice, or how I use your personal data please email me:
- mailto: william.knapman@tbgbarrister.co.uk,
- or my clerks: clerking@thebarristergroup.co.uk telephone 01823 247 247.
- I shall aim to respond as soon as possible, and within 30 days.
- You have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you believe I have not handled your request in an appropriate manner. For information on contacting the ICO please go to:
- https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/
Testimonials
I wanted to extend my deepest thanks for all your hard work, dedication, and expertise throughout my case. I was truly impressed by your quick thinking, calm and collected approach, and logical handling of each challenge we faced. Your ability to stay composed and focused, especially during our final hearing on the false allegations, was remarkable and made all the difference in achieving a successful outcome on that front. Although the next hearing didn’t result in the full decision we had hoped for, I genuinely believe you or anyone couldn’t have done any better. Your commitment to my case and your tireless efforts have not gone unnoticed, and I’m incredibly grateful to have had you by my side through it all and that you rearranged your workload for our surprise last minute recall to the courts.
Although I’m sure that you’ve dealt with many applications of this type before, the Defendants put up a solid fight, and I am so pleased that you prevailed. I am incredibly pleased with the outcome of this hearing, and the result on costs also. It was quite stressful in the lead up to the hearing, with the Defendants filing and serving documents late, but your advocacy skills won out in the end, giving us a fantastic result. I have shared your details around my colleagues in the PI team and have recommended that they consider instructing you for any future hearings. Once again, I am extremely grateful for all your hard work on this case, and for the updates both before and after the hearing.
Absolutely excellent news indeed. It really was such pleasure to meet and discuss with you too. I take great joy to say that going that extra mile yesterday morning was worth every step. Thank you so much. The results speak volumes of your efforts undoubtedly indeed and I am grateful that you most certainly put in all the required efforts to get this claim back on track and convinced the Court indeed to now ensure that the P20 claim will finally be issued within 7 days and thereafter, for the claim to proceed on the Multi Track as I requested.
Privacy Notice
This privacy notice explains how, why and for how long Bilal Mohammed Hanif will process or retain your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
If Bilal has been instructed by you, your litigation friend, your solicitor or agent, or through a pro bono referral, it is necessary to process your personal data in order to provide legal services. This may include advising on the prospects of litigation, advising on the value of a claim, representation at hearings or trial, and reviewing legal issues or evidence.
Recipients of your data
Depending on the nature of your case, data may be shared with courts and tribunals, your solicitors or agents, witnesses, experts, other legal representatives, ombudsmen or regulators, education and examining bodies, and current, past or prospective employers.
Special categories of data
Some matters require processing special category personal data, including information about health, ethnicity, religion, trade union membership, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or criminal allegations and convictions. Such data will only be processed where necessary to represent you or advise on your claim.
Retention
Your personal data will be retained for no longer than necessary and, where possible, anonymised. In general, records relating to cases are retained for at least six years to comply with professional obligations under the Bar Code of Conduct and tax record-keeping obligations.
Once your case has concluded and any fees have been paid, only the personal data necessary for regulatory compliance, conflict checking, defence of complaints or fee disputes, and reference in future similar cases will be retained.
Your rights
You may request confirmation that your personal data is being processed, request a copy of that data, request rectification of inaccurate data, object to certain processing, request restriction of processing, or request erasure where the GDPR permits it. Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time, although doing so may mean Bilal can no longer provide the legal services requested.
Security
Appropriate physical and technical measures are taken to safeguard your personal data and prevent unauthorised access, accidental loss, misuse or disclosure.
Complaints or queries
If you have any questions about this privacy notice, or how your personal data is used, please email clerking@thebarristergroup.co.uk or the clerks at clerking@thebarristergroup.co.uk, or call 01823 247 247.
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). Further information is available at ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/.
Work with Bilal
Send us your details and a member of the clerking team will be in touch. Or call us now on 01823 247 247.