Qarrar Somji
Director | Solicitor-Advocate
0300 303 2071
qarrar@witansolicitors.co.uk
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Biography, Education & Qualifications
Qarrar grew up in Tanzania and completed his undergraduate and master's education in England. Qarrar is multi-lingual and in addition to English, he is also fluent in Gujarati, Urdu and Swahili.
In his spare time, he takes an interest in personal development and enjoys reading fantasy fiction. He is a fan of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and enjoys Classical Music.
Qarrar graduated with a Masters in Commercial Law from the University of Birmingham in 2009 writing his thesis on Employer’s Liability for Work Related Stress.
During the early part of his career had significant experience in dealing with Consumer Credit Act and Financial Services and Markets Act litigation. From 2011, he was exposed to all aspects of Commercial, Chancery, Civil and Insolvency litigation. This now forms the bulk of his caseload.
Career History & Expertise
Qarrar joined as Associate Solicitor in 2018; became Director in 2020.
He leads the Dispute Resolution team, handles high-value commercial litigation, solicitor‑advocate rights in higher courts.
Sectors
Recent Work
BS and Ors v N & M [2024] – Claim for specific performance arising out of a share buyback agreements with a value of circa £7 million.
RSP v SP and Ors [2023] – Qarrar successfully appeared on behalf of the claims to seek two interim injunctions in the High Court in Birmingham.
TO v SS and Ors [2023] (Commercial Court) – Seeking recovery of a large unpaid loan involving cross border matters and foreign jurisdictions.
NK, MS v PH and Ors [2023] – settled a shareholders dispute in a large company which led to a demerger in part of the group and a share buyback in the trading company.
AMAH v MG [2023] EWHC (Chancery) – Acting on behalf of a company in a breach of Directors duty claim. Acted as an advocate at an interim injunction hearing to obtain a freezing injunction against a former Director.
Advice to a private equity firm relating to their investment in Turkey [2022].
D v ID [2022] EWHC (TCC) – Joint venture dispute between 2 commercial parties relating to 5 residential developments.
MM v SV [2022] – Defending a large dilapidations claim and pursuing the undertenant under a Part 20 claim.
VH v HH and ors [2021] BPC – dispute between two large haulage companies relating to ownership of plant.
MSLL v SML [2021] EWHC (Chancery) – Successful advocacy in an application to serve proceedings out of jurisdiction to the Cayman Islands under the Hague Convention.
ON & PM v RS & MT [2021] BPC – Successfully settled a long running business dispute at the start of a 5 day hearing where Qarrar was the instructed Advocate.
Apollo Ventures Co Ltd v Surinder Singh Manchanda and others [2020] EWHC – Act as second set of Solicitors in a £10 million pound dispute. Advised on settlement discussions, tactical applications and costs
AGPL v Allied Irish Bank [2019] EWHC (TCC) – Proceedings relating to a £1.5M breach of contract in arising out of a significant property development in Harborne, Birmingham. Qarrar was the Advocate for the Claimant in defending a Security for Costs application before HHJ Watson.
EGL v EC [2018] EWHC (Chancery) – Successfully defended and settled a breach of trust and directors duty claim where the client also recovered her legal costs.
JC v CP [2014] EWHC (Chancery) – Claim concerning the return of GP3 race cars and engines. Successfully settled on the morning of a 2 day trial.
D v CCH [2023] – pursued 3 simultaneous adjudications with a total value of over £1.2million.
D v L [2022] – dispute under a JCT Design and Build Contract (2016) which was successfully settled after the CCMC.
AE v RG [2022] – defended a breach of contract claim for a wraparound house extension.
K v RG [2021] – defended a breach of contract claim for a house extension.
NRGW v RBCS [2015] – Successfully defended a £500,000 adjudication relating to groundworks. Client recovered its legal costs.
Qarrar is regularly instructed on behalf of a local Insolvency practitioner to pursue misfeasance claims actions against former office holders and also advises office holders who are being pursued by Trustees in Bankruptcy and Liquidators.
ZA v SWM [2023] EWHC (Chancery) – Successfully petitioned for the winding up of the defendant company for an unpaid costs order.
During 2021/22 Qarrar was instructed by a leading barrister who was Kings Counsel (KC) to assist him contest and settle a Statutory Demand.
JM v CB [2019] – Successful application to set aside a Bankruptcy Order and Client awarded indemnity Costs.
AC v Begbies Traynor [2018] EWHC – Application to remove liquidator from office.
NRGW v RBCS [2015] – Successfully defended a £500,000 adjudication relating to groundworks. Client recovered its legal costs.
SF v FG and Ors [2024] – defending a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
MS & Ors v BS & Ors [2023] BPC – defending a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
B v B [2021] EWHC (Chancery) – currently defending a Section 50 Administration of Justice Act application to have an Administratrix removed from office.
B v B [2021] BPC – Enforcement application in a long running family dispute concerning properties in Birmingham.
KA v SALM [2021] BPC – successfully defended a breach of Trust claim against an Administratrix.
DM v LM & Ors [2021] EWHC – Currently pursuing an application under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975
D v J [2017] EWHC – Successfully settled a six figure application under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 application.
AE v RG [2023] – defending a claim for costs which is approaching £100,000.
BL v AS [2018] EWHC – Solicitors Act assessments and applications under Section 61(1) of the Solicitors Act 1974
D v NOSC [2018] – Successfully settled a whistleblowing claim at a Judicial Mediation where damages sought were in excess of £100,000 and the Respondent had benefit of Trade Union legal expenses cover.
K v KPH [2016] – brought proceedings against a private health clinic for several breaches of employment legislation.
WG v NHS [2015] – assisted a Band 7 nurse on her claim for construction dismissal and work related stress.
N v MHT [2014] – successfully pursed a well known F1 team for race discrimination.
Recognition
Qarrar prides himself on giving clear and practical advice, quickly absorbing complicated instructions in order to give concise and accurate advice. He instils confidence in clients with his technical expertise and calm demeanour. His strengths are in advocacy, rapid assimilation of facts and immediate identification of the critical issues of a dispute. He has the experience to sense instinctively when to settle and when to fight. Qarrar understands tactics used in litigation and also the need to always have a clear strategy in mind.
Qarrar likes to be commercially focused and enjoys thinking strategically to achieve desired outcomes. He strives to achieve client objectives in a timely and cost-effective manner. As a solicitor advocate, Qarrar has rights of audience in the Higher Courts, and regularly conducts his own advocacy, saving his clients the additional expense of instructing a barrister.
Professional Associations
Qarrar is a member of the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association, The Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) and the College of Mediators.
In the dynamic and changing world of Dispute Resolution Qarrar ensures his problem-solving skills are employed effectively in Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”). Qarrar is a CEDR accredited Commercial Mediator. With the effective use of ADR, Qarrar ensures settlements can be negotiated which would not be possible in Court.
Qarrar has participated in numerous mediations and resolved countless disputes by way of oral and written negotiations.
