Soraya specialises in criminal defence and is known for her engaging and robust trial advocacy, meticulous preparation, methodical analysis and exceptional client care.
Recognised as a leading junior in crime by the Legal 500, Soraya has developed a specialist practice defending in complex terrorism, public justice and protest cases, as well as in firearms, serious violence and sexual offences, both as led junior and junior alone.
Soraya also has a developing professional discipline practice and is frequently sought after to represent professionals before their regulators on allegations of supporting terrorism or alleged misconduct arising out of their social media use.
Alongside her crime and professional discipline practise, Soraya also undertakes sanctions work and has represented petitioners before the UN Ombudsperson to the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee.
Between 2021 and 2023, Soraya combined her practice alongside her role as Deputy Director of Reprieve UK, a leading international legal services NGO working to end the use of the death penalty globally, and to end extreme human rights abuses carried out in the name of counterterrorism or national security.
• R v SAL and Others (2024, Reading Crown Court): junior alone in a series of murder trials representing a woman charged with assisting an offender and perverting the course of justice by helping her younger brother evade arrest by fleeing the jurisdiction following the murder of a local young man. The Crown offered no evidence against her on Day 2 of trial.
• R v TC and others (2024): led junior representing a client charged with preparing an act of terrorism in an alleged neo-Nazi plot involving the use of firearms.
• R v LU (2024, Leeds Crown Court): led junior representing a client facing one count of possession of material likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism and several counts of fraud relating to online ‘crypto’ currency transactions.
• R v AS and JK (2024, Isleworth Crown Court): Representing a defendant being prosecuted by the counterterrorism unit for attendance at a pro-Palestinian demonstration.
• R v FH (2023, Croydon Crown Court): junior alone representing a former soldier charged with 15 counts of possession of firearms, possession of firearms with intent to endanger life and conversion of imitation firearms.
• R v LM and others (2023, Reading Crown Court): led junior in a 6-week week trial resulting in acquittal for a client charged with attempting to assist an offender to evade arrest, namely his younger brother, who had pleaded guilty to the stabbing and murder of a young man in the local area.
• R v KT and others (2023, Lewes Crown Court): junior alone successfully representing a young man facing several counts of possession of firearms with intent to cause fear of violence, conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and possession of criminal property.
• R v MAS (2023, Central Criminal Court): led junior in a 4-week terrorism trial representing an autistic client facing eight counts of possession of material likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, resulting in acquittals on five counts.
• R v KA (2022, Central Criminal Court): led junior in a 3-week terrorism trial representing a client facing three counts of disseminating terrorist publications and possession of a machete in circumstances which give rise to a reasonable suspicion that his possession was intended for a purpose connected with the commission or preparation of an act of terrorism, resulting in acquittals on all counts.
• R v OT (2021, Southwark Crown Court): prosecuting a 6-month conspiracy to launder money and recruit ‘money mules’ to transfer fraudulently obtained credit.
• R v HL (2021, Woolwich Crown Court): secured the acquittal of a victim of modern slavery with severe learning disabilities for firearms offences who had been ‘cuckooed’ and exploited by an organised criminal group.
• R v MG and others (2021, Isleworth Crown Court): multi-handed ‘county lines’ conspiracy to supply Class A drugs across England.
• R v FN and Others (2021, Isleworth Crown Court): Multi-handed drugs conspiracy involving the commercial production of cocaine.
• R v CS (2021, Snaresbrook Crown Court): conspiracy to supply 2kg of cocaine and possession of criminal property.
• R v VP (2020, Kingston Crown Court): possession of firearms and offensive weapons.
• R v MT (2020, Southwark Crown Court): prosecuting a ‘one punch’ GBH in which the complainant suffered long term impairment to their hearing and sense of smell.
• R v MSV (2020, Southwark Crown Court): prosecuting a large scale commercial cultivation of cannabis inside a luxury London home.
• Metropolitan Police v AV (2020, Willesden Magistrates Court): successfully opposing a police closure order for a venue in West London by challenging police evidence relating to the use of the Gang Matrix.
Arabic (native)
French (native)
Hebrew (fluent)
Spanish (intermediate)
Farsi (beginner)
Brazilian Portuguese (beginner)
BPTC, City Law School, City University of London
Graduate Diploma in Law, BPP University Law School
BA (Hons) Arabic and Hebrew, The School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
Criminal Bar Association (elected executive committee member, vice chair of the Young Criminal Bar Association)
Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (elected executive committee member)
CPS Advocates Panel – Grade 2
The Accountability Unit
