Profile

Zahra has developed a successful practice encompassing regulatory and public law.

In addition to her public and regulatory practice, Zahra has been appointed as a Commissioner of the Criminal Cases Review Commission by Her Majesty the Queen. The Commission is an official independent body that investigates potential miscarriages of justice.

Zahra commenced her legal career at the Criminal Bar after having trained in-house at a criminal defence firm. She has prosecuted and defended a range of offences.

Regulatory

Zahra has a particular expertise in the regulation of health care professionals. She provides legal advice and recommendations on the disposal of cases, in order to assist regulators in discharging the duty to protect the public. Zahra presents cases before professional disciplinary panels. She also appears in the High Court on Interim Order matters.

She has been commended by clients for her high standards of professionalism and client care.

Zahra has delivered Fitness to Practise training to professional clients.

Public Inquiries

Zahra has experience of working on public inquiries. She has been instructed as a junior member of the Counsel team to the Undercover Policing Inquiry.

Court of Protection 

Zahra has experience in Court of Protection cases. Her experience includes best interests decisions on health and welfare, property and affairs, medical treatment, welfare decisions relating to care, residence, family contact and Deprivation of Liberty issues.

Immigration

Zahra’s experience also covers the full spectrum of immigration law, including judicial review. She has appeared frequently in the First Tier and Upper Tribunal.

Recent publications

“Dying for a pill: Regulation of online pharmaceutical sales” by Zahra Ahmed (Solicitors Journal, March 2022 edition).

The growth of online pharmacies and other forms of ‘distance selling’ pharmacies has surged exponentially in recent years. The covid-19 pandemic further accelerated the online pharmacy sector’s expansion to new levels, with increased demand for distance selling of medications. In December 2019, following an inquest into the death of 22-year-old Gemma MacDonald, who died of a mixed drug overdose after buying from two companies, a coroner raised concerns about the lack of rigorous checks and the availability of large amounts of drugs online.

The article aims to explore current issues from a regulatory and professional disciplinary perspective. The article can be read on the Solicitors Journal website, here.