Our Team

Director and Head of Financial Crime. Very High-cost case fraud supervisor.

Ishfaq graduated from University in 1989, he spent his early career in the accountancy and banking sector.

In 1996 he joined a prominent and established criminal practice in Birmingham, in 1998 Ishfaq qualified as a criminal solicitor.

In 2003 Ishfaq set up GQS solicitors with two colleagues.

Having a background in the financial sector enabled Ishfaq to develop a skill set in defending clients suspected of all aspects of financial wrongdoing , Ishfaq has defended clients investigated by various law enforcement agencies.

Ishfaq is a very high-cost case fraud supervisor.

Ishfaq takes a proactive approach at the investigation stage with the principle aim to avoid a prosecution for the client this involves active engagement with the investigation authority from the outset.

In the event the client is charged , the client can be fully confident his defence has been set out in his interview , this approach enables robust defence of the case

Ishfaq will represent the client from the police station until the conclusion of the case , this is often the most stressful and anxious time for a person accused of a crime, this ensures continuity of representation and thus avoids the client having to see and deal with a different face as his case progresses.

Ishfaq has been defending clients for over twenty seven years he has represented clients from various backgrounds ( company directors , accountants, CEO of company listed FTSE 100 , estate agent, building society manager , medical professionals, funeral director ).

Ishfaq defends clients accused of sexual offences, murders and drug offences.

Ishfaq has been recognised by the leading directory legal 500 since 2021 and has received testimonials.

Ishfaq has this year been ranked by another leading legal directory chambers and partners.

Testimonials - Legal 500 

2024 - 2021

‘I have worked on many cases with one of the partners, Ishfaq Qadir in fraud and general crime cases. He is first rate. His ability to digest huge amounts of material and advice the client succinctly is a wonder to behold. He always makes himself available to his client on request. His instructions to contain a full assessment of the evidence and he prides himself on obtaining the best result for his clients.’

‘ I have worked closely with Ishfaq Qadir over the last four years on two very substantial fraud cases. He is an extremely talented solicitor. He is highly organised , immensely professional and excellent with clients .He is a joy to work with.’

‘Ishfaq Qadir is a truly outstanding solicitor. He has a calm efficiency and is totally on top of his cases. He has a wonderful manner with clients.’

‘Ishfaq Qadir is the consummate professional. He stands out because he works so incredibly hard to make a difference and has the intellect and stamina to make it happen.’

‘Ishfaq Qadir knows about a case inside out and prepared to go that extra mile for his clients.’

‘Ishfaq Qadir-no matter how difficult the client or the situation he remains calm and measured.’

‘Ishfaq Qadir is a truly exceptional solicitor with a unique blend of hard work, tactical awareness, likeability, and common sense. He leaves no stone unturned, and nothing is ever too much trouble. He He’s always able to make the time to discuss something that has arisen during trial and gives a helpful point of view.’

Fraud

Ishfaq defends clients for all aspects of financial crime ranging from boiler room fraud, time  share fraud , banking fraud , HMRC fraud and represents clients seeking advice and assistance for confiscation proceedings.

The following are cases Ishfaq Qadir has defended:

• Operation Destin (Southwark Crown court) currently acting for husband and wife for a  £40 million time share fraud.
• Operation Mickey (Nottingham crown court)-Acting for client for a £5million cash for crash case.
• Operation Grapevine (Southwark Crown court)-Acted for two clients charged with property investment fraud £13.7million 
• Operation Kraken (Birmingham crown court)-Acting for client charged with fraud. 
• Operation cornflour-(Southwark crown court)-Acted for  a businessman charged with fraud and money laundering offences. The case concerned the selling of US based investment product involving the lending of money to pay day loan companies,
• Operation Vouch (Southwark crown court-Acted for  client charged with fraud and money laundering.
• Operation Gaucho (Central criminal court) Acted for  company director who was charged with Lloyd’s bank staff with fraud and money laundering.
• R v FS & SS (Harrow crown court)- successfully acted for two company directors charged with an accountant and 8 others to commit multi million pounds home office visa fraud.
• R v ZH (Birmingham crown court)- successfully acted for  company director accused of tax fraud.
• R v DJ (Nottingham crown court)-Acted for  client charged with number of others with evading multi million pounds excise duty payable on tobacco.
• R v Mt and others (Ipswich crown court) Successfully acted for  lead defendant and a company director charged with conspiracy to defraud more than £1 million.

Drugs

Ishfaq has substantial experience of defending individuals charged with conspiracy to import and supply class A drugs. 

The following are cases Ishfaq Qadir has defended:

• Operation Lanon - (Stafford crown court) Acted for client charged as the lead defendant charged with 18 others in conspiracy to supply class A drugs in the Staffordshire area.
  
  
  
• R v DD – (Snaresbrook crown court) Successfully acted for client charged with conspiracy to import cocaine from multiple countries hidden in golf bags.
  
  
  

• R v KR Lincoln crown court -Operation vigil defending client accused with 10 others of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs.

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  R v Sw -operation Brutus , client charged with 10 others with conspiracy to supply class a & drugs , successfully persuaded the prosecution to proceed with a lesser charge against the client of concerned in the supply of controlled drugs , this resulted in the client pleading guilty and receiving a suspended sentence .

Murder/Attempt Murder 

The following are cases Ishfaq Qadir has defended:

R v SH-operation Hematite, Birmingham crown court , defending client accused murdering a 65 year old male.

Rv ST -Defended client accused of killing his boyfriend ,we   successfully persuaded the prosecution to drop the murder charge and accept a plea of manslaughter .

R CH -Birmingham Crown Court defended a client accused of stabbing her sister 18 times ,complex issues of fitness to plead, client made the subject of a hospital order.

Sexual offences

R v IH-Reading crown court -successfully represented father accused of historical sexual assaults against his niece.

R V Kl – Warwick successfully defended female of sexually assaulting her nieces when they were young

Rv Ms -Birmingham crown court -successfully defended father accused of historical rapes against family members

RV RL-Birmingham crown court successfully represented grandad accused of sexually assaulting his granddaughters.

R v A-Warwick crown court operation bookbinder representing client accused with others of arranging and facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation.

R v N A- Warwick crown court Defending a self-employed man accused of sexually assaulting his previous partner’s children.

Professional Memberships