Muneeb Akram

Muneeb is distinguished for the scrupulous preparation of his cases and for the extraordinary calibre of his advocacy and advisory services. He took the cross-qualification route to becoming a barrister, having previously practised as a solicitor-advocate. He practised as a solicitor from 2011 to 2017, having undertaken a traditional solicitors’ training contract.

Muneeb handles all instructions with particular sensitivity and compassion, whilst working to achieve the best possible outcome for his clients. He has in depth knowledge of civil, criminal and regulatory law and he is regularly instructed to conduct trials and substantive hearings.

1-4 . Commercial-1

Instruct Muneeb

Email Muneeb's clerk

Muneeb has the ability to assimilate complex evidence and advise his clients. He possesses the ability to explain complex legal issues to his clients, in a readily understandable format. Muneeb has significant experience of drafting written, legal submissions in preparation for hearings. He has demonstrable experience of conducting advocacy before courts and tribunals, including conducting witness handling duties and making oral, legal submissions. He is adept at exercising resilience and responding calmly and flexibly, in challenging circumstances. He inspires the confidence of his clients and remains authoritative, even when challenged during trials or hearings.

Muneeb is an excellent communicator, both in relation to his verbal and his written communication skills. He is also experienced at advising clients promptly about errant court or tribunal decisions, which have a prospect of being successfully challenged. He maintains extensive and up to date knowledge of legislation, case law and guidance, in relation to his areas of practice.

Muneeb's Experience

Called in 2016

Barristers in England and Wales are regulated by the Bar Standards Board

BSB logo

Employment Law

Muneeb represents employee and employer clients across the UK, before the Employment Tribunal, and Employment Appeal Tribunal. He acts for claimants, respondents and trade unions in all aspects of employment law, including discrimination, harassment and victimisation claims, wrongful and unfair dismissal cases, claims for unpaid wages and equal pay claims. Muneeb has conducted a range of employment discrimination matters, including race discrimination, as well as direct and indirect discrimination claims.

In particular, Muneeb has conducted employment tribunal cases dealing with a range of issues, including the following:

Unlawful deduction of wages claims arising from Section 13 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, which refers to “wages properly payable” by an employer to an employee;
Continuity of employment contracts and consideration of an employee’s terms and conditions of service, including public sector employee claims;
Breach of contract claims and considering whether such a claim “arises or is outstanding on the termination of the employee’s employment”, applying Article 3 (c) of the Industrial Tribunals Extension of Jurisdiction (England and Wales) Order 1994;
Consideration of a claimant’s employment status, including consideration of whether a contract between a claimant and respondent, was one of service within the meaning of Section 230(1) of the Employment Rights Act 1996;
Consideration of whether a claimant was a worker within the meaning of Section 203(3)(b) of the Employment Rights Act 1996;
Claims that a claimant was an employee for the purposes of Section 83 of the Equality Act 2010;
Claims that a claimant was a worker for the purpose of Regulation 2 of the Working Time Regulations 1998;
Claims for pregnancy discrimination pursuant to Section 83(2) of the Equality Act 2010, including consideration of the two stage test in discrimination claims, as set down by the Court of Appeal in Wong v Igen Ltd [2005] EWCA Civ 142;
Direct disability discrimination claims under Section 13 of the Equality Act 2010, including consideration of issues of “less favourable” treatment, an actual or hypothetical comparator, and establishing the reason for the alleged unfavourable treatment and whether an alleged discriminator acted "because of" a protected characteristic;
Discrimination arising from disability claims under Section 15 of the Equality Act 2010, including consideration of issues of “unfavourable treatment”, “because of something arising in consequence of the Claimant’s disability”, and “proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim”;
An employer’s knowledge of disability and whether the employer “did not know, and could not reasonably have been expected to know”, that the Claimant had “the disability”, under Section 15(2) of the Equality Act 2010;
Claims involving reasonable adjustments under Sections 20, 21 and 22 of the Equality Act 2010;
Harassment related to disability claims under Section 26 of the Equality Act 2010, including consideration of “unwanted conduct”, “related to a relevant protected characteristic”, “violating dignity” and “offensive environment”;
Victimisation claims under Section 27 of the Equality Act 2010, including consideration of “detriment” and whether any detriment is because of a protected act;
Compensation claims for holiday pay and rest periods under the Working Time Regulations 1998;
Claims for and calculation of, statutory redundancy pay;
Claims for unfair dismissal, pursuant to Section 98(1) of the Employment Rights Act 1996, including consideration of the reasonableness of the dismissal;
Sex discrimination claims, pursuant to Section 39 of the Equality Act 2010; and
Whistleblowing and detriment claims, including under Section 47B of the Employment Rights Act 1996.

Immigration & Asylum

Muneeb regularly appears before the First-Tier Immigration Tribunal on behalf of appellants, conducting immigration appeals against Home Office decisions. He is instructed on a variety of cases, including claims for asylum, human rights claims, and visa applications. Muneeb has experience of drafting grounds of appeal, summary grounds of defence and defences, as well written advices to his professional clients. He appears before the Upper Tribunal and is able to represent clients at oral permission hearings and substantive appeal hearings. He has gained a greater understanding of the legal framework for such cases from his study of the European Human Rights and International Human Rights law modules, on the LLM Masters Degree.

Muneeb is able to converse with clients in Urdu to a fluent level and he also speaks Punjabi to a conversational level. He previously worked as a Solicitor for central government, defending Home Office decisions, primarily arising out of judicial review, immigration litigation. In such cases, his advice is based on legal principles of judicial review and whether the decision involves illegality, irrationality or procedural impropriety.

Inquests & Regulatory

Having previously worked as an inhouse solicitor for two NHS foundation trusts, Muneeb has considerable experience of conducting inquests before HM Coroners’ Court. He has subsequently been instructed to represent interested persons in inquest proceedings, including Article 2 inquests before a jury. He is able to draft written, legal submissions in preparation for inquests. He is also able to conduct advocacy, including witness handling duties and oral, legal submissions.

Muneeb has experience of conducting healthcare regulatory matters and has carried out work for the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the General Dental Council and the General Medical Council. He is able to advise on and construct cases at the investigation stage of the process, involving registrants’ fitness to practise. He is also able to appear before the respective tribunal and conduct advocacy either for the regulatory body or for the registrant, at both final hearings and interim orders hearings.

Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence

Muneeb advises government departments regularly, in a range of litigated cases. He conducts complex unlawful detention cases, drafts defences and prepares advices in high value claims for damages for false imprisonment. Muneeb is routinely instructed as a trial advocate, in relation to both fast track and multi track cases. He conducts interlocutory hearings and CCMCs in unlawful detention cases.

He chairs conferences and advises, in a broad range of complex and challenging work. Muneeb conducts road traffic accident, occupiers liability, employers liability and holiday sickness claims. He has a particular aptitude for advancing and defending arguments of fundamental dishonesty, as well as dealing with technical, credit hire points. Having previously conducted both claimant and defendant personal injury work as a solicitor, he has significant experience of drafting particulars of claim, defences and schedules of loss in litigated cases. As a Solicitor, he worked for several, national defendant firms, conducting counter-fraud defendant work, low velocity impact cases and credit hire arguments. He also handled personal injury matters on behalf of HM Prison Service, including liability for assaults and injuries to prisoners.

Having trained as a solicitor with a national firm, Muneeb conducted work for the NHS Litigation Authority, in the defence of clinical negligence claims. He also defended claims on behalf of the Medical Protection Society. He is able to draft statements of case and schedules of loss, chair conferences, attend negotiations and advise on liability, quantum, and expert evidence in clinical negligence claims.

Crime

In 2018, Muneeb completed an LLM Masters Degree in International Law at University College London. He authored a dissertation, critically evaluating the juxtaposing crimes of genocide and crimes against humanity and whether alignment of those crimes is desirable and necessary.

He conducts both criminal prosecution and criminal defence work, before the Magistrates Court, Youth Court and Crown Court. He has a particular appetite for and attention to detail towards, criminal trial advocacy. He is currently a Grade 2 Advocate on the CPS Advocate Panel List. As a former solicitor-advocate in criminal advocacy, Muneeb has particular expertise in criminal prosecution work. He previously worked for the Crown Prosecution Service as a Senior Crown Prosecutor. He undertook trials in the Magistrates’ Court and Youth Court, covering a wide range of criminal offences. He undertook advocacy in remand courts, dealing with bail applications, sending provisions in either way cases and sentencing. He also assisted the Crown Court Unit Trial Preparation Team. He would conduct Crown Court cases and provide charging advice to the Police.

Privacy Policy

1. 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’).
2. The GDPR governs how an individual’s personal data is used, and your rights in relation to that data.
3. I, Muneeb Akram, have been instructed by you or your litigation friend (usually a parent), through your solicitor or agent, or via the Bar Pro Bono Unit.
4. 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.

5. Processing means anything done to data such as: recording, organising, adapting, altering, copying, consulting, transmitting, combining, erasing or storing it.

6.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.

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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

12. I will retain your personal data for no longer than is necessary, and where it is possible, I will anonymise your data.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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).

25. 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

26. 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

27. If you have any questions regarding this privacy notice, or how I use your personal data please email me: mailto: muneeb.akram@tbgbarrister.co.uk, or my clerks: clerking@thebarristergroup.co.uk telephone 01823 247 247.

28. I shall aim to respond as soon as possible, and within 30 days.

29. 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/