Meet Aliya Abid

Solicitor

Aliya is a Solicitor at Witan Solicitors. She joined the firm as a Litigation Executive in March 2022, became a Trainee Solicitor shortly after, and qualified as a Solicitor in March 2025.

Aliya completed her LLB, LPC and LLM at Birmingham City University between 2017 and 2021. She has a broad civil and commercial litigation practice, advising clients on property and TOLATA disputes, contentious probate and Inheritance Act claims, defamation and harassment proceedings, commercial and contractual disputes, insolvency matters, and regulatory issues.

Around two-thirds of Aliya’s caseload sits within civil and commercial litigation, with the remainder in family law, her preferred specialism where she is a member of Resolution and adopts an empathetic, resilient and solution-focused approach.

Family Law

Aliya advises on all aspects of family law, guiding clients to the best possible outcomes. She acts on divorce and financial remedy proceedings, child arrangements disputes, prenuptial agreements, and the protection of assets and investments at the end of a relationship. She has successfully undertaken advocacy before district and circuit judges in the Family Court, and represents both applicants and respondents on matters that often involve significant emotional and financial complexity. Aliya regularly handles cases involving cross-border elements, allegations of conduct, and the joinder of third parties to financial proceedings. With a deep commitment to her clients’ wellbeing and peace of mind, she offers clear advice and practical solutions to make difficult decisions easier.

Contentious Probate and Estate Disputes

Aliya advises on contentious probate matters, including estate recovery claims and claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. She helps clients navigate the often emotionally charged intersection of inheritance and family relationships, focusing on early resolution where possible and clear strategic guidance where litigation is required.

Property and TOLATA Disputes

Aliya has substantial experience in residential and commercial property disputes, including TOLATA claims, claims of breach of trust over residential property, possession and unlawful eviction proceedings, relief from forfeiture, service charge disputes, and misrepresentation claims arising out of property transactions. She has also acted for purchasers in disputes with developers, including the rescission of new-build contracts following significant completion delays.

Defamation, Harassment and Reputation Management

Aliya advises both claimants and defendants on defamation, libel and harassment claims, including matters arising from online publications, social media posts and livestream content. She has also defended proceedings, and successfully secured the setting aside of injunctions, in cases involving allegations of anti-social behaviour and harassment, as well as acting in claims involving unlawful eviction and harassment.

Commercial and Contractual Disputes

Aliya acts for businesses and individuals in a range of commercial and contractual disputes, including breach of contract, unfair contract terms, misrepresentation claims, construction-related contractual disputes, and disputes arising from the subletting of leasehold premises. She has experience setting aside default judgments and negotiating commercial settlements, as well as advising on contract drafting including framework agreements, non-disclosure agreements and share purchase agreements.

Insolvency

Aliya advises both creditors and debtors on insolvency matters, including the issuing and defending of winding-up petitions. She combines a procedural focus with a commercial sense of how insolvency tools can be used to drive recovery or resolution.

Civil and Regulatory

Aliya also advises on a range of civil and regulatory matters, including data protection claims involving unlawful processing of personal data, environmental health investigations and regulatory enforcement, insurance coverage disputes, loan recovery proceedings, challenges to Conditional Fee Agreements, and disputes arising from suspension of business operations on online trading platforms.

Aliya’s approach

Aliya combines technical depth with a genuinely client-focused approach. She is committed to providing seamless service, clear communication and practical guidance throughout what is often a difficult process for clients. Whether the matter requires firm advocacy or careful negotiation, Aliya aims to achieve outcomes that protect her clients’ interests both in the short and long term.

Some of Aliya’s notable cases:

Family

MM v FM (2022) – Acted in a complex child arrangements dispute involving serious allegations, successfully securing a Child Arrangements Order in favour of the father.

MM v FM (2022) – Obtained a lump sum order on behalf of the respondent husband in financial remedy proceedings.

SR v FS (2022) – Represented a client in contested proceedings involving parallel applications across overseas jurisdictions and complex asset distribution issues.

IR v AS (2023) – Successfully enforced a Child Arrangements Order following breach by the father.

AM v HG (2023) – Secured Prohibited Steps Orders preventing the removal of children from the jurisdiction.

AM v HG (2024) – Achieved findings of conduct and adverse inferences at final hearing, resulting in an award exceeding £400,000, together with spousal maintenance, child maintenance and indemnity costs.

LK v CH (2024) – Negotiated a settlement securing 16% of the sale proceeds of a matrimonial asset acquired using compensation funds.

YZ v SR (2024) – Acted in an application to set aside an order joining a third-party business partner to financial remedy proceedings.

SSR v NR (2025) – Successfully obtained a Child Arrangements Order for an applicant father residing in South Africa.

Contentious Probate

NB v MB (2023) – Advised on an estate recovery claim involving funds owed to the deceased.

FSF v FG & Ors (2025) – Successfully settled a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.

Property

SK v LB (2022) – Achieved settlement in a commercial unlawful eviction dispute.

KL v AMP (2023) – Settled a claim concerning forfeiture of a residential lease.

BS v OE (2023) – Acted in a dispute relating to service charge liabilities.

TB v LW (2024) – Successfully defended a breach of trust claim concerning a residential property in Northampton.

VQ (2024) – Successfully resolved a TOLATA dispute, securing a settlement providing the client with 75% of the beneficial interest and 6 months’ rent-free occupation.

LA (2025) – Successfully rescinded a new-build property contract due to significant completion delays.

SK v VL (2025) – Advised and represented a purchaser in a misrepresentation claim arising from a property transaction.

Defamation and Harassment

A1 RSL v JO & EH (2023) – Represented the claimant in proceedings involving allegations of libel and harassment.

AA v KO (2023) – Defended a harassment and defamation claim arising from social media publications and livestream content.

CO v CW (2023) – Advised on a defamation dispute concerning online social media posts.

SN v Local Authority (2024) – Successfully defended proceedings and secured the setting aside of an injunction relating to anti-social behaviour and harassment.

FD (2025) – Acted in a claim involving unlawful eviction and harassment.

Commercial Disputes

CCE Ltd v CT Ltd (2023) – Advised on contractual disputes involving unfair terms.

CEC v NP (2023) – Acted in a breach of construction contract dispute.

LGS Ltd v MP (2024) – Successfully set aside default judgment and negotiated settlement of an unpaid invoice dispute.

LA v JK (2025) – Acted in breach of contract proceedings relating to subletting of leasehold premises.

SS (2025) – Advising and representing a business in relation to disputed invoices.

Insolvency

HMRC v BMS (2024) – Successful application to dismiss a winding-up petition.

JJ v LAAL (2024) – Applied for a winding-up petition and successfully settled the case with the client receiving full payment.

Civil and Regulatory

LD (2023) – Successfully represented a claimant in a matter involving unlawful processing of false personal data.

MB (2024) – Advised on suspension of business operations on an international e-commerce platform.

SB v M Ltd (2024) – Acted in a breach of contract and misrepresentation claim arising from the purchase of a motor vehicle.

JW v AI (2025) – Acted in contractual and misrepresentation proceedings relating to a vehicle purchase.

AP (2025) – Represented a business in an Environmental Health investigation, successfully defending regulatory enforcement action.

CH v HC (2025) – Acted in proceedings concerning repayment of a loan.

HA (2025) – Successfully challenged a Conditional Fee Agreement, reducing the success fee from 40% to 25%.

WJ (2025) – Advising in an insurance coverage dispute following refusal to indemnify under a home insurance policy.

Employment

BCFC v MA (2023) – Successfully settled a claim for a discrimination and constructive unfair dismissal out of court.