The firm acts in criminal matters at every stage, from the registration of an FIR through bail, trial and appeal. Much of this work is urgent: an application for pre-arrest bail cannot wait, and the first days of a case frequently determine its course. We are structured to respond quickly.
We act for the accused and, where instructed, for complainants pursuing private complaints. A significant part of the practice is white-collar and economic crime, where criminal exposure sits alongside regulatory and civil proceedings arising from the same facts — and where advising on only one of the three is of limited use to a client.
What we do
- Pre-arrest (anticipatory) and post-arrest bail applications
- Quashment of FIRs and criminal miscellaneous petitions
- Trial advocacy before the Magistrates and Sessions Courts
- Appeals, revisions and criminal appeals to the High Court and Supreme Court
- White-collar crime: fraud, forgery, breach of trust and cheque dishonour
- Economic offences and matters before the National Accountability Bureau
- Proceedings before the Anti-Terrorism Courts and other special tribunals
- Private complaints and prosecution on behalf of complainants
How we work
Matters in this area are handled by senior counsel from first instruction to final order. We give a candid view of the merits at the outset — including where a claim is not worth running — and agree fees before work begins rather than after.
If your matter touches more than one of our practice areas, it will be dealt with by the same team rather than passed between departments.
Common Questions
Criminal Law: frequently asked
What is the difference between pre-arrest and post-arrest bail?
Pre-arrest (anticipatory) bail is sought before arrest, to protect against detention while a case is investigated. Post-arrest bail is sought after a person is already in custody. The tests the court applies differ, and pre-arrest bail is the more restrictive of the two.
How quickly can you act if someone has been arrested?
Immediately. Bail applications are time-critical and we treat them as such. Telephone the chambers rather than using the enquiry form if a person is in custody.
Can an FIR be cancelled or quashed?
In defined circumstances, yes — for example where the FIR discloses no offence, or where proceedings amount to an abuse of process. This is done by petition to the High Court, and success depends closely on the facts as recorded.
What is protective or transit bail?
Protective bail is short-term bail granted by a High Court to let a person reach the court that has jurisdiction over the case without being arrested on the way. It is commonly sought where an FIR is registered in another city or province. It does not decide the case; it buys time to apply for regular pre-arrest bail in the proper court.
An FIR has been registered against me. What should I do?
Do not contact the complainant or ignore police notices. Obtain a copy of the FIR, have it reviewed quickly, and consider pre-arrest bail if arrest is a real risk. Where the FIR discloses no offence or is plainly malicious, the High Court can be asked to quash it, and the police can be asked to recommend cancellation at the investigation stage.
Enquiries
Discuss a criminal law matter.
An initial consultation carries no obligation, and we will tell you plainly whether the firm is the right one for the matter.