Urfan joined Scullion Law in 2020 as a respected Solicitor Advocate having gained extensive experience throughout Scotland in the management, direction and presentation of High Court, sheriff and jury, and summary trials. He enjoys the reputation of a meticulous pleader and an excellent trial lawyer having acted in a number of complex cases involving crimes against the person, crimes against property, murder, terrorism offences, financial crime, complex fraud, corporate and white-collar crime, extradition, fatal accident inquiries, proceeds of crime, serious and organised crime, sexual offences, drugs offences, firearms offences, offensive weapons, public order offences, contempt of court proceedings, road traffic offences, including causing death by dangerous driving charges, dangerous and careless driving, drink driving, driving whilst disqualified and other minor RTA offences. He has also instructed and conducted criminal appeals in appellate proceedings at the High Court of Justiciary.
Urfan is a valued addition to the team, recognised for his forensic attention to detail, skilled, disciplined approach and creative diversity. He adopts a friendly and approachable attitude to his clients but never compromises a robust and competitive approach to the law. He is held in high regard by his peers who recognise his prodigious talents as an accomplished and tactical litigator with exceptional advocacy skills. He continues to be instructed in a variety of complex and novel cases and has appeared in a number of significant publicised criminal cases over the years.
Urfan was granted extended rights of audience and admitted as a Solicitor Advocate in 2014. He is the first Muslim Solicitor Advocate in Scotland and is entitled to appear as counsel in the High Court of Justiciary and Court of Appeal. He is a dedicated professional committed to providing a first class standard of service for his clients. He is skilled in the interpretation and application of the law and has gained a reputation for being a creative legal thinker who is honest, reliable, knowledgeable and dedicated to the pursuit of justice and equality.
Urfan has been instructed as both Solicitor and Solicitor Advocate in recent murder cases at Glasgow High Court which have led to acquittals, successful appeals by way of stated case procedure for high profile individuals, high profile Extradition cases, the first music file sharing prosecution in Scotland, the first case in the UK where the use of animal DNA was used to prosecute an individual, the first money laundering prosecution in Scotland, a number of fatal accident inquiries, cases of prominence before the appeal court involving the sentencing of children and vulnerable persons in Scotland, cases involving specialist procedure including the application of the mental health provisions in terms of successfully pleading special defences by reason of mental disorder in terms of section 51A of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 and procuring positive outcomes for persons considered to be unfit for trial in terms of section 53F of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995.
Urfan has always been committed to providing a high quality of service and engagement in assisting persons who may be negotiating a highly critical stage of their lives and is passionate about representing clients robustly and applying the law in a forensic and cohesive manner. He is reactive to urgent situations and changes in the law in order to assist clients and keep them fully informed. Serving the interests of justice and protecting the rights and liberties of citizens lie at the heart of the commitment the firm offers. Safeguarding human rights, acting with independence and integrity in striving to protect the interests of the client are fundamental obligations. Confidentiality and the provision of a professional service are guaranteed.
Urfan qualified as a solicitor in 2004 and worked for Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP, a leading commercial law firm, undertaking corporate work for a number of leading UK companies before deciding to pursue his ambitions as a specialist criminal court practitioner at Beltrami & Co. He gained extensive experience at the firm for over twelve years and worked in all areas of criminal law at both summary and solemn level including High Court proceedings and Court Martial work. During his time at Beltrami & Co., the firm were recognised as Criminal Law Firm of the Year at the Law Awards of Scotland in both 2015 and 2016. Urfan went on to work at Aamer Anwar & Co. Solicitors between 2017 and 2019, working on a variety of high profile cases including the Clara Ponsatí Extradition case. Urfan’s desire to significantly contribute persists and he continues to represent both laypersons and professionals accused of criminal or negligent conduct, including but not limited to Doctors, Dentists, Social Workers, Nurses, Police Officers, Accountants, members of the Armed Forces/Military Personnel including Courts Martial (Urfan is PACE trained). He has appeared in children’s referral hearings and in parole hearings before the Parole Board of Scotland. He has also accepted instructions in cases before the GMC, GDC, and undertaken both SSSC and NMC representation.
Urfan is also a Notary Public who is registered at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. He can speak three different languages being fluent in English, Urdu and Punjabi. He has also served as a committee member for the Glasgow Bar Association (“GBA”) and contributed to the development of the law in order to benefit the profession and its members. He compliments a flexible and adaptable approach to working, with research, teaching and mentoring younger members of staff and students who are keen to learn and are seeking opportunities to enhance their professional development. Urfan was a Mosaic Mentor on behalf of the Prince’s Trust in 2017 and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of educating and supporting children from minority and other backgrounds within secondary education.
Urfan has a strong academic background and graduated with Honours from the University of Glasgow in 2001 before going on to serve his apprenticeship with Dickson Minto WS, a leading corporate law firm, receiving the very highest standard of training in corporate, commercial and banking law. His versatility and ability to excel under pressure is an asset to any team.
Urfan can be instructed as either Solicitor or Solicitor Advocate.
