Zeena Begum (Door Tenant)

Zeena has experience of conducting trials on all tracks, she has represented both claimants and defendants in trials on liability and quantum, as well as in disposal hearings, applications, costs matters, and case management hearings. She has provided written advice/opinions in personal injury including advice on quantum.

Interlocutory Applications:

Zeena has experience in applications for further expert evidence in fast track case management hearings. In particular in the case of Hickmott v Robbins [2017] in this case two medical experts had agreed the claimant was recovered and any additional pain was claimant’s imagination. Claimant’s counsel sought to obtain a further report from a pain management expert. Zeena successfully opposed this application as there had been some considerable time between the accident and the pain re-commencing so the causation of the pain was unknown

Zeena has had to advice on amending pleadings and Schedules of Loss; most recently in McMasters v Martin Brower Ltd [2017] in which the pleading did not reflect what was set out in the witness statement.

Zeena has sought to apply to strike out cases when a party fails to attend or documents are served extremely late. In Ward v Zurich insurance (2016) an application to strike out was successful when the claimant’s witness failed to attend, this was despite the claimant’s counsel seeking to adjourn the matter which was opposed.

Newbury v New India Assurance Company [2017] the claimant sought to rely on part disclosure of financial disclosure to prove impecuniosity. Zeena applied to the court to not allow on the part disclosure as there was a court order asking for full disclosure. She was able to make strong submissions under the Denton test. The Judge agreed it was a Denton test case, the breach was serious and there was no good reason.

Hearings:

Zeena has substantial experience in small and fast track cases and the fixed costs regime. In Earnest Young v Service Insurance [2017]. Zeena successfully represented the claimant and was awarded all the fixed costs as well as witness expenses. She has appeared in fast track cases, where again she has been able argue points on fixed costs / disbursement under CPR 45. She has experience of QOCS cases and is aware the effects QOCS has for the defendant’s costs.

She has is familiar with fraudulent claims including staged accidents; phantom passengers and stooge vehicles. Zeena is aware of fundamental dishonesty and the effect on costs, including the automatic disqualification of QOCS.

Damages:

Zeena has extensive experience in the assessment of general damages. She has provided written advices in respect of general damages, including infant settlement claims. She has given talks on special damages including loss of earnings and disadvantage on the labour market and how the Ogden tables apply.

Credit hire

Zeena is instructed in various credit hire matters arising out of road traffic accidents, dealing with issues such as hire periods, spot rates and recoverability of damages. Zeena has also provided written advice in multi-track cases on the use of intervention letters namely; Ampong v Kalule (2016) written advice on multi-track case where the question of intervention letters was sent before the claimant hired a vehicle through credit hire and thus failed to properly mitigate his loss.

Zeena has successfully argument points on rate, period, need and impecuniosity.

Zeena has a breath of expertise in commercial law and contractual disputes. Zeena accepts instructions in all areas of contract law, Zeena’s recent instructions include:

• Represented company in a case involving agency law.
• Successfully settled a case for a for Claimant against a national retailer for sale of a faulty item.
• Defendant a company in a complex supply of services case.
• Acted for a claimant with a claim against a service provider and was approaching limitation.

Zeena is experienced in chancery law and in property cases, Zeena accepts instructions in all areas of chancery and property, recent instructions include:

• Advised leaseholders on their rights under a lease which the freeholder was breaching an express clause.
• Successfully represented a landlord in case where the tenant would not allow the landlord in to undertake essential repairs
• Acted for landlords in repossession hearings.

Zeena accepts instructions in all areas of Criminal law and regularly appears for both the Crown and Defence solicitors in Crown Courts.

Zeena previously worked at the Crown Prosecution Service having obtained one of only 15 pupillage places at a time when there were over 1200 applicants for those places. She quickly rose to the position of Senior Crown Prosecutor before deciding to pursue a career at the self-employed bar.

• Successfully prosecuted several crown court cases including possession of offensive weapons and GBH cases.
• Defended a client on kidnapping charges