Zafar has a broad practice that spans all of Chambers’ main areas of practice and in particular employment, sport, investigations, public/regulatory and human rights. Recent highlights of Zafar's practice include:

  • his appointment, in June 2021, as one of four Commissioners on the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC), set up by the England and Wales Cricket Board to investigate issues of inequality and discrimination in the sport. The ICEC's Report 'Holding Up a Mirror to Cricket' was published in June 2023;
  • acting for the Open University in a 15-day trial defending a claim of harassment, direct discrimination, victimisation and constructive unfair dismissal by an academic with gender critical beliefs (led by Jane Mulcahy KC);
  • his secondment to the UK energy regulator OFGEM between October 2022 and April 2023;
  • acting unled in successful disciplinary and safeguarding proceedings brought by UK Athletics;
  • acting for a family of a man seeking disclosure from The National Archives of police files concerning his unsolved racist murder (led by Tom Hickman KC);
  • conducting highly sensitive investigations into allegations of race discrimination, breaches of confidentiality, unfair recruitment processes, and victimisation (assisting Gemma White KC and David Pievsky KC).

Prior to commencing practice, Zafar played professional cricket for Surrey and England. After retiring from the sport in 2017, Zafar worked as a youth advocate at the charity Just for Kids Law, assisting young people with understanding and claiming their rights in areas including, but not limited to: community care, education, housing, immigration, and criminal justice. Whilst undertaking his legal qualifications, Zafar also spent time volunteering for the Refugee Council and the charity Inquest.

Experience

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Employment

Zafar accepts instructions in all areas of employment law.

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Sport

Zafar accepts instructions in all areas of sports law.

In July 2021, Zafar was appointed as a Commissioner to the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket, set up by the England and Wales Cricket Board to examine issues of inequality and discrimination in the sport. The ICEC's Report 'Holding Up a Mirror to Cricket' was published in June 2023.

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Public & Regulatory

Zafar accepts instructions in all areas of public law.

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Investigations & Inquiries

Zafar has experience conducting highly sensitive investigations. His work includes:

  • Acting as one of four Commissioners on the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC), set up by the England and Wales Cricket Board to investigate issues of inequality and discrimination in the sport. The ICEC's Report 'Holding Up a Mirror to Cricket' was published in June 2023.
  • Assisting Gemma White KC in an investigation into allegations of race discrimination and the use of racist language by the Chair of a Board.
  • Assisting David Pievsky KC in an investigation into complaints of a breach of confidentiality, unfair recruitment processes, and victimisation.

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Civil Liberties & Human Rights

Zafar accepts instructions in all areas of civil liberties and human rights law.

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Financial Services & Banking

Zafar accepts instructions in all areas of financial services law.

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Commercial

Zafar accepts instructions in all areas of commercial law.

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Achievements

Education

  • BPP University (London Holborn). Bar Professional Training Course (full-time): Outstanding
  • BPP University (London Waterloo). Graduate Diploma in Law (part time): Distinction
  • Royal Holloway, University of London. MA History (by Research) (part time): Distinction
  • Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge. BA (Hons) Politics, Psychology and Sociology (PPS): Double First.

  • 2nd highest mark across cohort in BPTC exams, BPP University, 2020. 
  • Buchanan Prize for outstanding mark in BPTC exams, Lincoln’s Inn, 2020. 
  • Lord Denning Scholarship, BPTC, Lincoln’s Inn, 2019. 
  • Excellence Scholarship, BPP University, 2019.
  • Bowen Scholarship, GDL, Lincoln’s Inn, 2017. 
  • Cohen Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence, BPP University, 2017. 
  • Career Guarantee Scholarship, BPP University, 2017. 

Publications

  • Co-author of "Holding Up a Mirror to Cricket: A Report by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket" (June 2023).
  • Co-author of "Doping" in "Football and the Law" (London 2022).
  • Columnist, Wisden Cricket Monthly, July 2019 – Sept 2020.
  • ‘Has test cricket had its day?’, Prospect Magazine, 21 June 2018.
  • ‘Calling it a day at 25: Left-field decision’, Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack 2018 (also published in The Times).
  • Contributor to: BBC Radio 5 Live – ‘The Friday Sports Panel’  and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra – ‘The Cricket Social’.

Voluntary Positions

  • June 2019 – Sept 2020 Volunteer, Refugee Council (Refugee Cricket Project) 
  • Sept 2018 – Mar 2019 Family Participation and Advocacy Volunteer, INQUEST
  • Jan 2017 – Aug 2017 Player Ambassador and Volunteer, Surrey Cricket Foundation

VAT registration number: 387 4327 62

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+44 (0)207 5831770

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