18th May 2026
Saba Naqshbandi KC represents members of Saffron Cole-Nottage’s family in inquest
Saffron slipped and fell headfirst into rocks on the Lowestoft coastline on 2 February 2025. The Coroner made findings...
Eddie Holland
Senior Clerk
Emma Makepeace
Deputy Senior Clerk
Saba Naqshbandi KC is a leading and trusted King’s Counsel, with 30 years’ experience advising boards and regulated businesses on complex, high stakes matters. Operating across multiple jurisdictions, she is known for her exceptional advocacy, strategic judgement and ability to deliver commercially focused advice in the most challenging circumstances.
Her practice spans regulatory enforcement, internal investigations, crisis management and reputational risk, where legal, commercial and public scrutiny frequently converge.
In her first year as King’s Counsel, Saba was awarded Health & Safety Silk of the Year 2025 by Chambers and Partners, reflecting her standing as a leading authority in the field. She is consistently ranked as a top-tier practitioner across all her practice areas.
Saba is Chambers and Partners Health & Safety Silk of the Year 2025. She specialises in complex and high-risk health and safety and environmental law cases.
Known for her meticulous preparation, responsiveness and discretion, Saba is regularly instructed at the earliest stages where organisations require clear and decisive advice. Clients value not only her technical expertise, but also her ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments while protecting both business continuity and reputation. Saba’s strategic advice has led to numerous investigations being discontinued in recent years.
Saba’s background in both defending and prosecuting criminal regulatory cases – together with her extensive work in public inquiries, inquests, and her role for six years as an Assistant Coroner – gives her a uniquely comprehensive perspective. Clients value her ability to see the whole landscape, anticipate risk and guide them through demanding, multifaceted processes with clarity and precision.
Before taking silk, Saba served as an ‘A’ Panel Specialist Advocate instructed by the Health & Safety Executive, the Office of Rail and Road and the Environment Agency in the most serious, complex and high-profile cases. Insight from her work on both sides of regulatory enforcement continues to provide significant advantage to her clients.
Her reputation is strongly reflected in the legal directories where she is described as “… the go to silk for fire safety.” (Chambers UK 2026) “an excellent communicator: clear, concise and unafraid to deliver hard messages to clients, but in a palatable way. She commands the courtroom in an effortless way.” (Legal 500 2025).
Areas of expertise include:
Representative work:
Fire and building regulation & safety
Rail regulation & safety
Construction & development
Retail & hospitality
Environmental pollution
Saba is highly experienced in managing complex, sensitive, high-profile investigations and inquiries involving significant public scrutiny, multiple stakeholders and substantial volumes of complex and, multi-jurisdictional evidence.
She has acted in a number of the UK’s most high-profile public inquiries and inquests, including the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry, the Westminster and London Bridge terror attack inquests (for the fire and emergency services), the Manchester Arena bombing Public Inquiry (for a young steward who was the last person to see the bomber before detonation), and the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko, where she acted for the police and prepared the detailed evidence-based investigative report into the murder.
Alongside her corporate practice, Saba represents families in sensitive inquests frequently involving fatal incidents and vulnerable clients. This experience gives her valuable insight into the human, reputational and communication issues that arise following serious incidents, enabling her to advise all her clients with both strategic judgement and sensitivity.
She is described by peers and clients as: “… highly thorough. She is very trusted to ensure that cases of all complexities are handled carefully and efficiently,” (Chambers UK 2025), “Saba’s intelligence is immediately recognisable and it demands a respect and captures attention” (Legal 500 2025), a client observing that “She is a canny advocate – I always go into a hearing glad she’s on our side not theirs!” (Chambers UK 2024).
She is instructed by all participants across all her specialist areas including:
Representative work
Public Inquiries:
Inquests
Corporates:
Enforcement bodies
Families
A serious crime, commercial fraud, bribery & corruption and sanctions specialist with a recognised reputation. Saba’s advice is sought both nationally and internationally, and includes advising foreign Governments and enforcement authorities, corporates and individuals in multi-jurisdictional cases. She is an expert in complex production orders.
Saba is described as “… very clever and a confident advocate” (Chambers UK 2025), “… highly regarded for her expertise in fraud, bribery and money laundering cases. She is acknowledged for her skill in cases with international elements and has experience representing individuals in high-profile cases” (Chambers UK 2026), “… really clever … and can take anything that gets thrown at her,” (Chambers UK 2023); “offers sharp strategic insight,” “… a wonderful communicator who easily brings everyone else around to her way of thinking.” (Chambers UK 2024).
Areas of specialisation:
Representative work:
Saba has represented major operators, iconic venues, family-favourite chains, and independent hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues throughout a 30-year legal career. She advises clients on all aspects of premises licensing and regulatory compliance, including food safety, health and safety, fire safety, and environmental protection matters such as noise and waste pollution. She also has extensive experience advising gambling sector corporates and representing clients before the UK Gambling Commission.
Saba is consistently recognised by leading legal directories for her expertise, commercial insight, and standing within the industry:
“Saba Naqshbandi KC is an accomplished advocate who frequently advises well-known operators and is called on to act on challenging licensing applications and variations. Widely praised for her work on enforcement cases, she boasts a strong track record of representing iconic venues in highly contentious matters” (Chambers UK 2026), “Saba Naqshbandi really digs deep to make sure the client is prepared for every eventuality. Her attention to detail is like no other” (Chambers UK 2026), “Saba always maintains an authoritative and calm demeanour, with a focus on finding a solution” (Chambers UK 2024)
Representative work:
Saba has been involved in sports regulation and disciplinary matters for many years, both domestically and before CAS, acting for sporting bodies, athletes, and coaches across a range of sports, including athletics and tennis. She is particularly experienced in dealing with safeguarding cases.
She is a member of the CAS and Sports Resolution Pro Bono Panels.
Representative work:
Eddie Holland
Senior Clerk
Emma Makepeace
Deputy Senior Clerk
Environment, Health, Safety (EHS)
“Saba is excellent, and the go-to silk for fire safety. She is equally excellent on inquest and inquiry matters…” Chambers UK
“She is excellent in dealing with lay clients who haven’t got a real depth of understanding of the law…” Chambers UK
“… is particularly adept at handling fire safety cases arising from fatal incidents.” Chambers UK
“She is very client-focused, very user-friendly and centred the case extremely well.” Chambers UK
“Saba combines intelligence and great judgment with a tenacious and pragmatic demeanour.” Legal 500
“With Saba, you get good, clear advice without wasting any time. She knows the area from back to front and knows the key experts.” Chambers UK
“Saba is an excellent communicator: clear, concise, and unafraid to deliver hard messages to clients, but in a palatable way. She commands the courtroom in an effortless way.” Legal 500
“Saba is brilliant at grasping detail quickly and advising clients pragmatically. A go-to for fire safety cases.” Legal 500
“The first choice for fire safety work.” Legal 500
“A very fearless advocate who is not cowed by a difficult case or difficult tribunal.” Chambers UK
“Strategically a master, making difficult decisions with ease.” Legal 500
“Composed, compelling and tenacious.” Legal 500
“Her client-handling skills are really impeccable and her advocacy is first-rate.” Chambers UK
“A strong barrister with exceptional knowledge of fire safety law.” Legal 500
“Precise and persistent as an advocate. You can just depend on her for the right view.” Chambers UK
Public Inquiries & Inquests
“Saba’s intelligence is immediately recognisable and it demands a respect and captures attention.” Legal 500
“Saba is hard-working, focused and impeccably well prepared. She is a canny advocate – I always go into a hearing glad she’s on our side not theirs!” Chambers UK
“She’s straight-talking, clear-thinking and knows what is in the client’s best interests.” Chambers UK
“Saba’s advocacy is very persuasive and effective but understated.” Chambers UK
“Saba has an expert analytical eye and delves into the detail of every case so that she knows it back to front.” Legal 500
“Saba Naqshbandi KC has represented core participants in a number of public inquiries. Her recent inquests work demonstrates strong expertise in railway safety matters.” Chambers UK
“Saba is always impeccably prepared.” Legal 500
“Saba is highly thorough. She is very trusted to ensure that cases of all complexities are handled carefully and efficiently.” Chambers UK
“She’s very experienced, fantastic with clients and very good tactically.” Chambers UK
“A seriously impressive senior junior who leaves nothing to chance.” Legal 500
“She has impeccable attention to detail, leaving no stone unturned, and is extremely client-friendly.” Legal 500
“She has an excellent manner with clients, a commanding presence and a nice style. Her attention to detail is first-rate and she is able to get up to speed very quickly. She is especially impressive when technical medical evidence is involved.” Chambers UK
“Brilliantly friendly with clients and solicitors but she also has a very strategic mind and an excellent grasp of the law.” Chambers UK
Serious Crime, Commercial fraud, bribery & corruption
“… a wonderful communicator who easily brings everyone else around to her way of thinking.” Chambers UK
“Saba Naqshbandi KC is highly regarded for her expertise in fraud, bribery and money laundering cases. She is acknowledged for her skill in cases with international elements and has experience representing individuals in high-profile cases.” Chambers UK
“Saba is very clever and a confident advocate.” Chambers UK
“She can put her points really clearly; she’s a very effective advocate.” Chambers UK
“Offers sharp strategic insight and has a very calm and reassuring manner. She really whittles down the facts to the key issues.” Chambers UK
“Her mastery of the detail, advice and advocacy are consistently excellent.” Legal 500
“Very polished and very versatile.” Chambers UK
“Has an impressive practice.” “She is an incredibly thorough practitioner, who is smart and absolutely charming with judges. She focuses judges’ minds on the points they need to focus on and is very adept at dealing with clients.” Chambers UK
“Extremely user-friendly, sharp, quick and to-the-point, making her a pleasure to work with.” Legal 500
“She is very experienced and good at sensitive criminal cases.” Chambers UK
“Excellent tactical judgement” “a reassuring presence.” Legal 500
Licensing
“Saba Naqshbandi is absolutely brilliant…” Chambers UK
“Saba Naqshbandi really digs deep to make sure the client is prepared for every eventuality. Her attention to detail is like no other.” Chambers UK
“Saba Naqshbandi KC is an accomplished advocate who frequently advises well-known operators and is called on to act on challenging licensing applications and variations. Widely praised for her work on enforcement cases, she boasts a strong track record of representing iconic venues in highly contentious matters.” Chambers UK
“Saba always maintains an authoritative and calm demeanour, with a focus on finding a solution.” Chambers UK
“One of the leading licensing juniors.” Legal 500
“She is very good with tribunals, has an ice-cool temperament and is very articulate.” Chambers UK
“She is a super advocate and is very, very clever.” “Her detail is second to none and she is very popular with clients.” Chambers UK
“Professional, diligent and extremely personable, she has great presence before licensing committees and in the courtroom, and is extremely popular with the client.” Chambers UK
“The ‘outstanding ‘Saba Naqshbandi has ‘a wealth of experience’ in the area.” Legal 500
“Saba Naqshbandi is ‘very bright, hardworking, dedicated and good with clients. She is very persuasive, yet measured. Her written work and her advocacy are both top class’.” Legal 500
Awards
Nominations
Pro Bono
Saba strongly believes in giving back and undertakes pro bono work in all aspects of her practice. Over the last few years she has supported two families in sensitive inquests and represented an individual on a sports discipline case.
Her work has led to her recognition by the Lady Chief Justice in the 2026 Pro Bono Recognition List.
Mentoring
Saba is passionate about mentoring those who wish to access the legal profession and those within the profession. Through her work for many years within Chambers, Middle Temple, specialist legal associations and in her own personal life, Saba has successfully supported students to pupillage through advice, application review and mock interview practice; school pupils to experience life as a barrister; junior solicitors to obtain new roles and colleagues to develop work and attain senior positions.
She is a mentor for Advocate, the Bar’s national pro bono legal advice charity.
Languages
I, Saba Naqshbandi KC, am a data controller and can be contacted at 3 Raymond Buildings, Gray’s Inn, London WC1R 5BH or by telephone on 020 7400 6400 or by email at saba.naqshbandi@3rblaw.com. My Data Protection Policy can be found below.
All personal data that I process is for the purposes of providing legal services, conducting conflict-checks, marketing, defending potential complaints, legal proceedings or fee disputes, keeping anti-money laundering records, training other barristers and pupils and when providing work-shadowing opportunities, and/or exercising a right to a lien. The types of data I process vary upon the nature of the legal matter in relation to which I am engaged to advise, but can include names, contact details, biographic details and ‘special category personal data’ (such as details of racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, health, sex life and criminal convictions and proceedings).
Depending upon the circumstances of the case, the legal bases upon which I process personal data are (i) the performance of a contract to which the data subject is a party or in order to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract, (ii) the processing is necessary to comply with legal obligations to which I am subject, or (iii) the processing is necessary for the legitimate interests set out above, except where such interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subjects which require protection of personal data, in particular where the data subject is a child. When I rely on (iii) legitimate interests, my ‘Legitimate Interests Assessment’ can be found here. When I process data which has not be obtained directly from the data subject (e.g. personal data contained in evidential materials), it will have been supplied to me as part of my instructions in circumstances covered by legal professional privilege.
Depending upon the circumstances of the case, I may share the personal data with:
I retain personal data for no longer than 7 years after the case has come to an end or as otherwise required by law.
I do not intend to transfer data to any country which is not either within the European Union, ‘white listed’ by the EU or otherwise permitted by EU law (e.g. to the USA under the provisions of the ‘Privacy Shield’).
Under the GDPR, data subjects whose personal data I process have the right to request from me access to, and rectification or erasure of, their personal data, the right to the restriction of processing concerning them, the right to object to processing as well as the right to data portability. Data subjects also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ico.org.uk).
In cases where there is a contract between me and the data subject, the provision of personal data is a contractual requirement and the data subject is obliged to provide the personal data in order that I can supply legal services. A failure to provide such data may mean that I will not be able to provide the legal services.
Saba Naqshbandi is qualified to accept instructions direct from clients under the Bar Council’s Public Access Scheme. This means that members of the public who seek specialist advice can come direct to her. In addition, she welcomes instructions from solicitors, in-house law departments, qualified foreign lawyers, and clients licensed by the Bar Council to give instructions direct to barristers under the Bar Council’s Licensed Access Scheme.
For further information please contact our Clerks.
| Address | 3 Raymond Buildings, Gray’s Inn, London WC1R 5BH |
|---|---|
| DX | 237 LDE |
| Opening hours | 08:30 – 18:30 |
| Telephone | +44 (0)20 7400 6400 |
|---|---|
| clerks@3rblaw.com | |
| Senior clerk | Saba Naqshbandi KC |
