Introduction
Ali Tabari is widely recognised as a leading commercial junior, consistently ranked in the legal directories for many years and described variously as “a highly skilled and persuasive advocate”, “exceptional on his feet”, “amazing with clients”, “a very impressive trial advocate”, “very incisive”, “a pleasure to work with”, “a great team player”, “very approachable, responsive and friendly”, “absolutely fantastic”, and with an “excellent manner with clients and the judiciary”.
He has a busy and thriving commercial practice focussing on heavy commercial litigation involving fraud, insolvency, company and finance aspects. His experience in those fields also leads to instructions in professional liability matters.
He regularly appears in lengthy and complex trials in the High Court, and has been instructed in the Court of Appeal several times. Recent experience has seen him led in a 3-week fraud trial worth £100m+ and sole junior (against four Silks) in a month-long conspiracy and breach of duty trial worth £30m+ in the Rolls Building. He is instructed on a number of ongoing large-scale frauds, involving whistleblowing evidence of sophisticated supplier fraud, banking scams, and misappropriation of company monies by directors and employees. He is also involved in numerous shareholder disputes, each requiring a blend of tactical acumen and judgment of mood so as to achieve the best outcome in each case.
First and foremost, Ali is a confident courtroom advocate who is diligent, proactive and approachable. He welcomes early involvement so as to help formulate a strategy in line with the client’s commercial objectives, which is particularly relevant to cases involving fraudulent conduct and the likely dissipation of assets. He is hugely experienced in fraud litigation, and understands the need for advice to be robust, pragmatic, swift and realistic. Ali’s responsive and collaborative style is well-suited to urgent applications for injunctive relief, as well as applications for pre-action and interim relief, all of which are regular features of his fraud and insolvency practice areas.
Moreover, Ali is an accredited civil/commercial mediator through ADR Group, and uses those skills when instructed as the advocate in mediations; he has acted in over 70 mediations as either mediator or advocate. His sensible and considered approach has also led to instructions as an independent investigator for private companies requiring findings of fact and determinations of internal disputes.
Ali is qualified to take instructions through the Direct Public Access scheme. Alongside being the Chair of the Pupillage Committee (running the busiest pupillage programme in chambers’ history), he writes regularly for well-established practitioner resources, regularly delivers seminars, and speaks a number of languages (fluent in Farsi, good working knowledge of German and French). He undertakes pro bono work where appropriate.
Commercial Dispute Resolution
In addition to his specialist areas of work, Ali undertakes a wide spectrum of commercial litigation, both as led junior and sole counsel. Recently he has been involved in several complex high-value disputes involving breaches of contract and warranty, misrepresentation. conspiracy and economic torts, and recently secured the renewal of a General Civil Restraint Order against a vexatious litigant. He is frequently instructed by blue-chip clients on sensitive and significant disputes, and has vast experience of every type of interim relief (including Freezing Orders, Imaging Orders and Norwich Pharmacal Orders) and lengthy High Court trials.
- Butt v Butt [2024] EWHC 3222 (Ch) – acted for the claimant in a case concerning the beneficial ownership of shares in a family-owned company and the imposition of a constructive trust
- Tornado Wire Ltd v John Good Logistics Ltd [2024] EWHC 212 (KB) – successfully represented the respondent to a summary judgment application concerning the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 and industry-standard terms of trading”
- London Business House Ltd v Pitman Training Ltd [2023] EWHC 1077 (Comm) – successfully defended a claim arising from an alleged breach of a franchise agreement and alleged fraudulent misrepresentations;
- Ingeus (UK) Ltd v Wardle [2021] EWHC 1268 (QB) – General Civil Restraint Order against a vexatious litigant;
- Nelson v Circle Thirty Three Housing Trust Ltd [2014] EWCA Civ 106 – one of the first post-Mitchell decisions on relief from sanctions;
- Eleftheriou v Costi [2013] EWHC 2168 (Ch) – successfully defended a claim based on constructive trust arising from a series of linked businesses;
- Chatha v Uppal [2012] EWHC 2150 (Ch) – application to vary a Freezing Order in the context of a foreign national overstaying his visa.
- Currently instructed on a multi-million pound dispute concerning the alleged failure to install a specialist factory in Mongolia (estimated trial in 2026).
- Acting for the claimant in proceedings concerning the non-payment of substantial commissions from valuable solar energy projects, in a case involving obligations of good faith and reasonableness in the exercise of the defendant’s discretion in putting together a business plan
Fraud
Ali is one of the region’s busiest juniors in the field of fraud litigation, and he has an excellent grasp of the strategic and commercial considerations in this increasingly prevalent area of work. Ali’s collaborative and hands-on approach suits the often time-pressured circumstances of obtaining necessary pre-action and interim relief.
Ali is fully conversant with the tools needed to take early steps, and has ample experience in applications for ex parte injunctive relief, including worldwide freezing orders (including against Persons Unknown), search/imaging orders, Norwich Pharmacal/Bankers Trust Orders and passport orders.
He has recently been led in a £100m+ trial arising from the sale of two businesses, and in litigation arising from investments in a global healthcare company. He is currently instructed as sole Counsel in disputes concerning high-value phishing scams, large-scale Ponzi schemes involving offshore and domestic investment vehicles, sophisticated employee frauds, secret commissions, sham trusts of land, fraudulent use of trust funds, application of the proceeds of crime, numerous allegations of deceit and breaches of fiduciary duty by company directors, and fraudulent applications for grants from public funds. He also acted in a case involving large-scale and repeated breaches of confidential information from a governmental organisation, leading to a multi-million pound claim settled on confidential terms.
He has delivered seminars to the Midlands Fraud Forum, professional clients and MBL Seminars on a number of topics in this area, including piercing the corporate veil and the maximisation of asset recovery.
Recent work and reported cases in this area includes:
- Henderson & Jones Ltd v Ross, Barnes and others [2023] EWHC 1276 (Ch): successfully defended two directors before Richard Smith J in a 3-week breach of duty/conspiracy trial worth £35m arising from the restructure of a medical services group caught up in the PIP Breast Implants scandal. Instructed as sole junior alongside and against 4 Silks for the other parties;
- Kelly & another v Braid and Baker [2022] EWHC 1879 (Ch) and [2021] EWHC 964 (Comm) – Acted at trial for an ex-shareholder in a 3-week fraudulent misrepresentation trial concerning the multi-million pound sale of a business (led by Mark Harper QC, before Cockerill J – summer 2022);
- Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea v Airbnb Payments (UK) Ltd [2022] EWHC 2209 (Ch) – led by John Randall KC in a successful application by a local authority for a Norwich Pharmacal Order in respect of widescale tenancy fraud
- Successfully acted for a defendant facing a claim to set aside a trial judgment on the basis that it was obtained by fraud (10-day trial before HHJ Rawlings sitting as a High Court Judge);
- Acted for a global car manufacturer bringing claims against senior employees in conspiracy, relating to diversion of large sums of company money (settled at mediation after disclosure);
- Acting in two ongoing matters concerning multi-million pound Ponzi schemes involving investments in Jersey, Gibraltar and the Cayman Islands (one listed for trial in late-2021);
- Successfully acted for an employer against two ex-employees alleged to have committed a substantial and sophisticated fraud. The Claim involved obtaining and extending a Freezing Order, resisting its discharge, and an application for permission to bring contempt proceedings;
- Successfully acted for a local authority against a company and its director arising from an allegedly fraudulent application for a grant of public funds;
- Successfully acted in numerous cases requiring Norwich Pharmacal/Bankers Trust Orders in respect of evidence to substantiate sophisticated internal frauds;
Insolvency
Ali is ranked by the directories as a leading junior in insolvency work. He is currently instructed in numerous claims involving allegations of misfeasance, TUV/preferences, unlawful dividends and transactions to defraud creditors. He has appeared in some of the region’s largest insolvency litigation in recent years, including successfully defending a £30m breach of duty claim arising from the PIP breast implants litigation (sole junior for the directors, appearing alongside four Silks).
As part of his corporate insolvency practice, as well as acting in the common claims against directors or shareholders, he is regularly instructed to obtain injunctive relief, including worldwide freezing orders. He regularly acts in applications to obtain or extend administration Orders, and has acted in all manner of procedural applications arising from administration and liquidation, including applications concerning office-holders’ remuneration.
In bankruptcy matters, Ali has appeared in contested petitions, applications to annul bankruptcies and set aside statutory demands, challenges to an IVA and proofs of debt, public examinations, committal applications, cases involving ‘bankruptcy tourism’, and in the Crown Court to recover luxury cars subject to a criminal Restraint Order.
Ali regularly acts for directors facing disqualification proceedings, both in disputing the application itself and in mitigating the period of disqualification. He appeared in a reported case where disqualification proceedings were dismissed as an abuse of process, and recently secured permission for a director to continue acting even after an admission of substantial financial mismanagement. He recently advised on a number of issues arising from the entry into administration of a high-profile online car marketplace.
He is a regular speaker at seminars to professional networks and clients (including at multiple regional R3 events, and large conferences hosted by clients), and regularly writes for a number of leading industry publications.
Recent work and reported cases in this area includes:
- Lime and Black PBS Ltd v Gill [2024] EWHC 1898 (Ch): led Natalie Kearney on a trial concerning allegations of de facto directorship, breach of duty, dishonest assistance and conspiracy arising from a multi-million pound VAT fraud carried out by the company;
- Henderson & Jones Ltd v Ross, Barnes and others [2023] EWHC 1276 (Ch): successfully defended two directors before Richard Smith J in a 3-week breach of duty/conspiracy trial worth £35m arising from the restructure of a medical services group caught up in the PIP Breast Implants scandal. Instructed as sole junior alongside and against 4 Silks for the other parties;
- Manolete Partners plc v Rutter [2022] EWHC 2552 (Ch) – successfully pursuing two directors for breaches of duty arising from misappropriation of company money and outstanding directors’ loans;
- Re Arboretum Devon (RLH) Ltd [2021] EWHC 1047 (Ch) – contested application between two secured creditors claiming priority interest over the sale proceeds of a series of woodland lodges;
- Re Benedict Cole Limited (in administration) [2020] EWHC 946 (Ch) – successfully acted for an administrator in an application concerning funds allegedly held on trust for a creditor;
- Re All Star Leisure (Group) Ltd [2019] EWHC 3231 (Ch) – obtained a declaration as to the validity of a series of apparently defective administration appointments under the out-of-hours CE Filing system;
- Tongue v RSPCA [2017] EWHC 2508 (Ch) – 10-day trial concerning a disputed proof of debt, and the bailment of hundreds of cows;
- Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills v Williams and Weston [2014] EWHC 2933 (Ch); [2014] BCC 581 – acted for a respondent in directors’ disqualification proceedings, striking out the Secretary of State’s claim as an abuse of process;
- Acting for the respondents to a c.£1m preference/TUV claim in a property company allegedly operated for the benefit of a Formula 1 driver (trial in 2025);
- Successfully represented the Trustee in Bankruptcy in a challenge brought to his decision on several multi-million pound proofs of debt arising from a fraudulent investment scheme;
- Successfully acted for an office-holder in a £1m fraudulent trading claim against a director of three companies wound up on public interest claims, and associates alleged to have created sham trust deeds;
- Representing a director being pursued in misfeasance for conduct arising from a tax avoidance scheme which was retrospectively ruled to be unlawful;
- Successfully acted for a liquidator in misfeasance proceedings against a director arising from the closing down and subsequent resurrection of a business, the director having relied on misrepresentations made by the liquidator pre-appointment;
- Secured permission to act for a director who had given a substantial undertaking to the Secretary of State arising from large-scale financial mismanagement.
Company
A large part of Ali’s practice comprises advising and representing shareholders and directors, and has acted in cases involving all of the principal methods of resolution (just and equitable winding up; voluntary liquidation; unfair prejudice petitions). His experience of obtaining urgent interim relief is a valuable tool in establishing a strategy early on in proceedings, and his calm and pragmatic demeanour is an asset when attempting to resolve matters by way of ADR.
Ali’s deep knowledge of fraud and insolvency angles often come into play when seeking to unpick often complex intra-company disputes.
Recent work and reported cases in this area includes:
- Acted for the claimant in a case concerning the beneficial ownership of shares in a family-owned company and the imposition of a constructive trust
- Acting for the directors of a property development company worth c.£8m in a s.994 petition brought by other family shareholders arising from alleged exclusion from management, and various breaches of duty (settled at mediation after proceedings issued)
- Acting in a derivative claim within a family-owned company where the majority shareholder has appropriated valuable land alleged to belong to the company;
- Acting for the majority shareholder in a dispute concerning the conduct of the directors of several group companies, including the taking of secret commissions and breaches of fiduciary duty;
- Acting for two directors accused of perpetrating an unlawful means conspiracy on an ex-director, both in Part 7 proceedings and also a s.994 petition, and successfully resisting an injunction application designed to prevent a shareholders’ meeting taking place;
- Currently representing a 50% shareholder in a deadlocked quasi-partnership where there are allegations of fraudulent conduct on both sides;
- Several cases involving the unlawful removal of directors from companies and quasi-partnerships.
Banking & Financial Services
Ali is frequently instructed by large multinational banks and finance institutions in claims involving fraud, undue influence, duress, misrepresentation, estoppel and sham trusts, often contributing to early strategic decisions. He regularly advises on the enforceability of guarantees and indemnities, subrogation claims, and on the suitability of enforcement options after judgment.
Notably, he has secured a $1m judgment against a Saudi national who alleged fraud against the merchants with whom he did business, and in another matter secured a full judgment against a defendant who, amongst other defences, relied on a trust document which the bank alleged was a sham. A 5-day trial involving a £1m claim between a mortgage broker and a property developer recently ended mid-way through Ali’s cross-examination of the claimant.
He has previously acted for individuals alleging sales at an undervalue amounting to £2m, and has acted in cases involving allegations of inappropriate investment advice by IFAs. Ali also has substantial experience of acting for finance houses in asset finance cases, and has successfully acted in numerous claims for conversion and the return of goods, including a reported case concerning a luxury Porsche in which Ali’s client was successful at trial and again on appeal.
Recent work and reported cases in this area includes:
- Blade Motor Group Limited v Reynolds & Reynolds Limited [2018] EWHC 497 (Ch), [2018] All ER (D) 164 (Feb) – resisted an injunction brought by a debtor who had failed to pay its invoices and was subsequently locked out of its own commercial database;
- Rubens v Evolution Funding Limited [2018] EWHC 270 (QB) – successfully representing a finance house seeking to assert subrogated rights in a luxury sports car, both at trial and on appeal (sole junior against a Silk on both occasions);
- American Express Services Europe Ltd v Al-Shabrakah [2015] EWHC 3004 (QB) – secured judgment against a Saudi national who denied liability for his extravagant expenditure, alleged fraud against the merchants who had received monies from his account;
- Chatfields-Martin Walter Ltd v Lombard North Central plc [2014] EWHC 1222 (QB) – acting for a finance house in a case concerning parties’ reasonable reliance on the HPI register;
- Acting for an invoice factoring financier in a dispute involving allegations of fraudulent invoicing and the applicability of two personal guarantees;
- Acting for a bank to recover a commercial property in circumstances where the original signatories were alleged to have forged signatures, and made counter-accusations against the bank of dishonest conduct;
- Acting for a state-owned bank in arbitration proceedings arising from the acquisition of two other banks;
- Representing a business in its claim against an international bank for misrepresentation and breach of collateral warranty.
Professional liability
Ali’s well-established practice in this area mainly involves claims against solicitors, surveyors and IFAs, though has also involved allegations as wide-ranging as substandard agronomy services and indemnity issues arising from property fires. As well as running matters to trial, he is regularly instructed to provide early strategic advice, mindful of the commercial imperatives in insurance-backed work. Ali’s approach is sensible and based on common-sense, which lends itself to numerous instructions as a mediation advocate.
In his recent work, Ali has been led in a large-scale action arising from a defective share sale; defended solicitors from allegations arising from property transactions, including alleged breaches of the Etridge guidance; acting for various claimants against solicitors arising from the negligently handling of civil and criminal litigation; defending IFAs and tax advisers from allegations of inappropriately risky investment/tax advice; acting for solicitors, including claiming contributions/indemnities from other firms; representing claimants against surveyors for losses arising from negligent property valuations and drainage reports.
Recent work and reported cases in this area includes:
- Acting for a purchaser against conveyancing solicitors who allegedly failed to spot a planning issue that rendered his house worthless and uninsurable;
- Acting for solicitors alleged to have given negligent advice during litigation; the case involved claiming indemnity/contribution from another firm of solicitors;
- Acting for clients against their former barrister who was alleged to have given negligent advice during litigation;
- Advising clients of tax avoidance schemes subsequently found to have been unlawful in respect of claims against IFAs and brokers.
Education
LLB (Hons), Dunelm
BVC (Very Competent), Nottingham Law School
Appointments and Memberships
Midland Chancery and Commercial Bar Association (MCCBA)
Testimonials
“He is amazing with clients and provides commercial advice that always gets to the heart of the issue.” Chambers & Partners 2025
“He has done some impressive cases and he has really good courtroom experience.” Chambers & Partners 2025
“Ali is a go-to for commercial work in Birmingham.” Chambers & Partners 2025
“Ali is very responsive and nothing seems to faze him. He has an excellent rapport with clients and solicitors. He is well respected by the judiciary and is excellent on his feet with a very calm and methodical approach to cross-examination – like a smiling assassin.” Legal 500 2025
“Ali is very measured and calm. He has a very good attention to detail and his written work is of an excellent quality. Ali is a strong advocate with a persuasive and articulate manner. He is also a great team player, really willing to roll up his sleeves when required.” Legal 500 2025
“Ali can put clients and opponents at ease. His advocacy style is polite, measured and understated. He is very commercial and gives clients practical solutions. He never shies away from the issues and is always committed to finding a solution which works best for the client.” Legal 500 2024
“Ali is a good advocate who sets out written arguments well and is well known for doing a good job.” Chambers & Partners 2024
“He has a charm about him which people really like, and he is measured in his approach.” Chambers & Partners 2024
“Ali is practical and experienced in his field, and is good with clients in conference.” Chambers & Partners 2024
“Ali has the perfect balance of technical knowledge and client relationship skills. He makes himself available to assist including initial discussions pre instructions as to whether it is a matter he can assist with.” Legal 500 2023
“He is very strategic and thinks well on his feet.” Legal 500 2023
“Ali is very pragmatic and very commercially minded.” Chambers & Partners 2023
“Ali is an incredibly smooth and charming advocate.” Chambers & Partners 2023
“He is very calm and very pragmatic.” Chambers & Partners 2023
“He is user-friendly and its very easy to put him in front of a client – he quickly gains their confidence.” Chambers UK 2022
“Friendly, warm, thorough and efficient. He had to deal with many difficult conversations and he is diplomatic in that regard.” Chambers UK 2022
“Ali is a very good tactician; he has a clear goal and objective and takes a no-nonsense approach to litigation. ” Legal 500 2022
“He’s very affable, very easy to get on with and always very calm and measured in court.” Chambers UK
“He brings a good balance of commercial and technical experience to matters.” Chambers UK
“Excellent manner with clients and the judiciary, and he’s not afraid to change tactics both procedurally and legally if it will give the client an edge.” Chambers UK
“Personable, bright and very good on his feet.” Chambers UK
“A very impressive trial advocate who has a real ability to endear himself to judges in hearings.” Legal 500 2021
“Very available, personable, and strong on technical expertise.” Legal 500 2020
“He has the ability to grasp difficult points in a case very quickly.” Chambers UK
“He is really good at understanding his clients’ needs, and his calm manner puts everyone at ease.” Chambers UK
“An extremely talented barrister with an excellent commercial understanding of his clients’ businesses. He is able to convey his advice in a pragmatic and effective manner, and always with a comprehension of what the client is seeking to achieve.” Chambers UK
“Very incisive, thorough and great to work with.”, “Technically sound and very commercially minded.” Chambers UK
“He is a pleasure to deal with and has a splendid manner with clients and witnesses alike.” Chambers UK
“He is fabulous at building a rapport with clients – he offers clear advice in everyday language and is always one step ahead.” Chambers UK
“Very personable, nimble on his feet, concise and pragmatic.” Legal 500
“He’s very well versed in his subject area and an impressive advocate. He’s able to put the client at ease with his confident grasp of the subject material and he comes up with inventive suggestions for maximising the best result at trial.” Chambers UK
“He is very approachable, responsive and friendly. It’s a real pleasure working with him.” Chambers UK
“He is able to deal with tricky opponents and offers sensible, commercial advice.” Chambers UK
“A highly skilled and persuasive advocate.” Legal 500
“He works immensely hard. A very bright and persuasive advocate with excellent knowledge.” Chambers UK
“He is absolutely fantastic, he gives such good, measured advice and has a good way of explaining things to clients in ways which they can understand.” Chambers UK
“He has a fantastic ability to break down complex legal ideas; he is pragmatic, sensible and exceptional on his feet.” Legal 500
Languages
English
Farsi
French
German
