Isha has a broad commercial litigation practice spanning commercial disputes, group litigation, insolvency, arbitration and collective proceedings. Her commercial practice is complemented by instructions in major public inquiries.
She regularly appears in the County Court, Insolvency and Companies Court and High Court, both as sole counsel and as junior counsel.
Isha’s recent instructions as sole counsel include an ongoing High Court commercial dispute, an insolvency matter valued at over £3 million, and successfully appearing unled in multiple High Court appeals.
As junior counsel, Isha is instructed as Junior Counsel to the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry. She is also instructed as Junior Counsel to the Undercover Policing Inquiry, where she has developed advocacy experience before the Chair. Earlier in her career, she was instructed as Junior Counsel to the Inquest concerning the Gleision Mine fatalities.
Isha acts in some of the largest and most significant group litigation currently before the courts. She is instructed by Oliver Campbell KC for the claimants in the Pan NOx Emissions (Dieselgate) Group Litigation, comprising 13 GLOs against several vehicle manufacturers and involving approximately 1.3 million claimants, and recognised as one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases for 2025. She also acted in two high-profile equal pay claims for major UK retailers.
She has a growing practice in international commercial disputes and arbitration-related work. She has been led by Geraint Webb KC and Ognjen Miletic in an international commercial dispute involving jurisdictional challenges, conflict of laws and novel duty of care arguments. She completed a secondment with Griffiths and Partners in the Turks and Caicos Islands, gaining experience in offshore commercial litigation.
Isha graduated top of her year in Law at the University of York before completing the BCL at the University of Oxford. She is a recipient of the Queen Mother Scholarship from Middle Temple and has spoken at the House of Lords. Prior to pupillage, she volunteered with the Citizens Advice Bureau.
For more information about the way barristers at Henderson Chambers work, including our terms of engagement, fee transparency statement and our complaints process, please click here. Barristers are regulated by the Bar Standards Board.
Please click here for a copy of Isha Shakir’s privacy policy.
Expertise
Commercial Litigation and Arbitration
Isha has experience across a broad range of commercial disputes, including civil fraud, breach of contract, economic torts, and interim applications in the High Court and County Court. Her academic background in conflict of laws (BCL, Oxford) underpins her interest in jurisdictional disputes and cross-border commercial litigation, including arbitration-related work.
Representative cases
grid list-
International Commercial Matter
Isha has been led by Geraint Webb KC and Ognjen Miletic in an international commercial dispute involving jurisdictional challenges and novel duty of care arguments.
-
High Court Appeal
Isha has frequently appeared unled in the High Court in a regulatory appeal involving a substantial sum, securing successful outcomes for her client.
-
Civil Fraud Trial
Isha acted as sole counsel in a civil fraud trial on behalf of an energy company.
-
High Court Commercial Dispute
Isha is currently instructed as sole counsel in a High Court commercial dispute exceeding £200,000.
-
Breach of Contract Claim
Isha represented a member of the Saudi Arabian royal family in a breach of contract dispute concerning a share purchase agreement, appearing before a Circuit Judge.
-
High Court Part 8 Claim
Isha acted as sole counsel in a High Court Part 8 claim concerning an estate valued at over £600,000.
-
Commercial Lease Advice
Isha advised on a dispute concerning alleged overcharging by a landlord for utilities, including issues relating to apportionment of energy costs and responsibility for maintenance of electrical infrastructure.
Group Actions and Competition
Isha has experience in large-scale group litigation involving complex case management, multi-party coordination, and significant documentary evidence. She is particularly familiar with claims arising in the consumer, employment, and regulatory spheres. Isha specialised in collective actions and competition law during the BCL at Oxford.
Representative cases
grid list-
Pan NOx Emissions (Dieselgate) Group Litigation
Isha is led by Oliver Campbell KC in one of the largest consumer actions in the UK, comprising coordinated group claims against several vehicle manufacturers and involving approximately 1.3 million claimants. The litigation has been recognised as one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases for 2025.
-
Equal Pay Group Litigation
She acted for two major UK retailers in high-value equal pay proceedings involving large-scale disclosure and complex multi-party issues.
Public Inquiries and Inquests
Isha acts in major public inquiries and related investigatory proceedings.
Representative cases
grid list-
Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry
Isha is instructed as Junior Counsel to the Inquiry assisting with expert evidence in corporate governance and management and supporting wider evidential processes.
-
Undercover Policing Inquiry
Isha is instructed as Junior Counsel to the Inquiry, where she has gained experience working on sensitive disclosure and evidential issues and has appeared before the Chair.
-
Gleision Mine Fatalities Inquest
Isha was instructed as Disclosure Junior in the inquest into the deaths of four miners following the 2011 Gleision Mine disaster before the Senior Coroner for Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.
Insolvency
Isha has experience in insolvency and company law matters, including winding up petitions, bankruptcy proceedings, and claims under the Insolvency Act 1986. She has appeared in the Insolvency and Companies Court and has been instructed as sole counsel in significant-value disputes.
Representative cases
grid list-
Winding Up Court
Isha has regularly appeared in the Insolvency and Companies Court on behalf of companies across sectors including energy, construction, and investment sectors.
-
Bankruptcy
Isha acted for a football club in proceedings resulting in the successful obtaining of a bankruptcy order.
Employment
Isha has experience in employment and related civil claims, including equal pay, discrimination, unfair dismissal, and whistleblowing-type allegations. She acts in both individual and group employment disputes, often involving complex evidential issues and senior corporate respondents.
Representative cases
grid list-
Equal Pay Group Litigation
Isha acted for two major UK retailers in high-value equal pay proceedings forming part of wider group litigation.
-
Pro Bono Employment Claim
Isha represented a claimant in proceedings alleging sex discrimination, victimisation, and unfair dismissal against a UK and US-based technology company.
Offshore Commercial Litigation
Isha gained offshore litigation experience during a secondment to Griffiths and Partners in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Her work included contentious trust disputes, property litigation involving complex land ownership issues, contractual disputes subject to freezing orders, and judicial review proceedings. She also assisted with high-value and sensitive applications involving judicial recusal and procedural fairness.
News and articles
Pan-NOx Litigation: PDD Trial Judgment Handed Down
Henderson Chambers Supporting The London Legal...
ALERTER Consumer Class Actions: comments on the...
Pro Bono Recognition List 2026
Isha Shakir successful in defending High Court...
Henderson Chambers Supporting The London Legal...
Instructing Isha Shakir
If you require help or advice please contact our clerking team
Call +44 (0)20 7583 9020
or email
- Government Legal Department, Junior Junior scheme (11/08/2023 to 16/09/2027)
- COMBAR
Education
- First Class Bachelor of Law degree, University of York
- BCL, University of Oxford
- Bar Course
Awards and Scholarships
- Middle Temple, Queen Mother Scholarship
- Oxford University Press, York Law School Best Graduating Student Prize
- York Law School, Top Performing Student Year 2 Award
- York Law School, Top Performing Student Year 1 Award
- Middle Temple, Access to the Bar Scholarship
- Darlington Council, Exceptional Young Volunteer Finalist Award
All members of Chambers are registered with the Bar Standards Board of England and Wales. For our standard contractual terms click here.
For more information about the way barristers at Henderson Chambers work, including our fee transparency statement and our complaints process, please click here.
Bar Council Number: 76735
VAT Registration Number: 449166663
Legal Status: Barrister
Professional Insurance: All members of Chambers have professional liability insurance provided by the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund Ltd. Territorial coverage is world-wide and subject to the term of the Bar Mutual. Click here for details.
Regulated by the Bar Standards Board.
