[photo] Satnam Bains (2002)Satnam Bains (2002)

Teams

Crime, Actions Against the Police

Education

  • LL.B. Brunel University (1999)
  • LL.M. Criminal Litigation, Inns of Court School of Law (2000)
  • Pegasus Scholarship (Inner Temple)

Practice

Satnam appears in the Crown Court on all serious matters including armed robbery, firearms, drugs (possession and importation), serious violence including blackmail, s.18 GBH, football-related violence and offences involving religious and cultural factors.

Recent notable instructions include, as led junior, a case involving a multi-million pound credit card cloning conspiracy (R. v. Mert); as sole counsel, a case that resulted from what was described as the second largest police enquiry in Warwickshire of 2005 (R. v. Ubhi); and a case involving an abuse of process argument on delay and a failure to charge a series of armed robberies simultaneously (R. v. McClean).

Satnam appeared pro bono in a Criminal Cases Review Commission appeal involving the admission of prejudicial evidence concerning a now proscribed terrorist organisation.

Satnam represents applicants in judicial review and case stated proceedings. A recent case involved an argument about the reasonableness of refusing bail following the abolition of High Court bail (R. v. Balraj Shergill).

He also provides written advices and representation in proposed civil actions against the police (false imprisonment, unlawful arrest and malicious prosecution).

Profile

Satnam has been an independent member of the Tower Hamlets Council Standards Committee since 2003 and previously acted as vice-chair. The committee investigates and adjudicates on allegations of misconduct and impropriety of elected local councillors. He has also lectured on human rights and was guest speaker on the debate “Free speech should stop where offence begins” held by the Institute of Ideas and Pfizer Debating Matters National Competition.

Satnam is active in death row work and human rights work in South East Asia. Previously he worked for the Prisoners’ Families and Friends Service and the Free Representation Unit.

Satnam speaks Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu.

Memberships

Criminal Bar Association, Human Rights Lawyers Association, Bar Pro Bono Unit, Free Representation Unit.