Our lawyers are highly experienced and motivated by a commitment to legal aid work and the representation of private clients through highly competitive rates.

We have a low turnover of staff, which means clients receive consistent advice from a team of lawyers who work closely together and who understand the specific needs and circumstances of our clients.

Naila Akhter

Naila trained as a solicitor at Platt Halpern Solicitors and qualified in 2003. Her principal was John Potter who became a full time Crown Court Judge in 2010, under whom she gained her Higher Rights of Audience in Criminal Law.

 Naila was made a partner in 2008.  Thereafter, the senior partners Daniel Halpern and John Platt retired, and it was at this point Naila made the decision to sever the criminal department and set up Platts Solicitors in 2018 by taking over the existing Rusholme and Oldham offices.

Platt Halpern was founded in 1991 by two highly respected South Manchester Law Centre solicitors, Jon Comyn-Platt and Danny Halpern.  The two founding partners were dedicated to delivering social justice to the community and that became the ethos of the firm.  Naila has continued with this tradition by ensuring that the firm continues to provide representation to vulnerable underprivileged members of the community.

Naila is the head of criminal, fraud and professional discipline departments. Over the last 20 years she has defended the most serious and complex cases both nationally and internationally, she often appears in very high-profile cases which includes firearms conspiracies, multiple murders, multi-million-pound frauds, offenses involving violence, sexual offences (including sexual misconduct in the workplace), proceeds of crime etc. She is highly motivated, tenacious, and compassionate criminal defence lawyer.  Due to her proactive approach, she has a track record of success.

Naila is extremely professional and empathetic in defending vulnerable clients particularly those with a brain injury and with complex needs.   She approaches every case with the same high standard and is always determined to fight for her clients to achieve the best possible result. With her knowledge and understanding of mental disorders, developmental disorders, neurological impairments and her vast experience and understanding of the criminal justice system, means that she is best placed to achieve the optimum results for her vulnerable clients. Due to her skill and expertise, Naila is often instructed by specialist law firms representing individual with severe brain injury.

Naila has an enviable reputation in successfully representing clients on numerous regulatory panels, with substantial experience in defending professionals before the General Medical Council fitness to plead, health and safety, trading standards.   She is familiar with all manner of regulatory challenges and understands the consequence of being prosecuted because of regulatory investigations and the impact it can have on the individual and their business. Naila provides robust representation and exceptional service, she is instructed across the UK by professionals to advise and defend doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives, architects, opticians, pharmacists, and teachers before their regulatory body. She achieves excellent feedback from clients.

Naila has considerable experience advising clients across the full spectrum of prison law related matters such as disciplinary hearings, release dates, parole licence, home office licence and recall.   Naila understands that imprisonment can cause immense distress to an individual, she is keen to ensure that client care continues after an individual is taken into custody.  She is instructed by prisoners across the country.

Naila also has vast experience in successfully appealing convictions and sentences. She is aware how stressful it can be to be wrongfully convicted and the importance for an individual to clear their name.    She believes in giving honest and accurate advice on the merits of the appeal, she only takes on cases if there are merits of appeal.   Naila is known for meticulously preparing appeals as well as representing individuals in appellant courts at all level. Her passion is to achieve the best outcome for her clients.

Mark Gatley KC

“Naila Akhter is a powerful force in the legal landscape of the North West. She deals with cases of the utmost legal and factual complexity with confidence, skill and boundless energy.  At the core of her professional life is a fierce professional pride which drives a determination to provide her clients with the best possible representation. The result is uncommonly deep, detailed and persistent preparation which leaves nothing to chance and produces substantial and comprehensive instructions to counsel. Her skillset is enhanced by having higher rights of audience, which enables her to appear in the Crown Court and above. As a result, she not only has the trial advocate’s tactical acuity, but also the ability to provide a flexible and adaptive service to her clients”.

Michael Ivers KC

“Naila Akhter is definitely a solicitor you want in your corner if you face criminal charges. She’s completely dedicated to the case; everything is prepared with a keen attention to detail and most important of all sound judgment. I’ve seen those qualities make a real difference in every case we have done together”.

Stuart Neale Counsel

“Ms Akhter has a remarkable ability to spot the cases with chances for success that few others seem to seeing done so, fights the cases with tenacity.

In the case of MA, a man who had been convicted of sexual offences against his wife, she took on what looked like a hopeless appeal but found crucial points of evidence which, when presented to the Court of Appeal, led to Mr MA’s conviction being quashed.

Of course, every case is only as good as the evidence available, but even when faced with what looks like a hopeless cause Ms Akhter digs in to make sure the client has the best chance. In the case of CL, the Defendant was a teaching assistant charges with sexual abuse of one of the children in his class based on messages which had bene recovered from his phone. Ms Akhter was able to compel disclosure of substantial material which, had it not being for Mr CL virtually admitting the offences in the witness box would have been forensically effective.

Ms Akhter also has an uncanny knack to identify cases which need fighting. In the case of AD, the Defendant was alleged to be a street drug dealer and was, purportedly, identified by 2 undercover police officers as supplying drugs to them. Ms Akhter’s client skills led to the disclosure, by the defence , of real time work logs showing the Mr AD was, at the time of the alleged drug deals, in completely different locations many miles apart.

Ms Akhter has a wonderful empathy with her clients and earns huge loyalty and respect from the clients and their families, taking an interest in them and their loved ones”.

Won – Criminal Defence Lawyer of the Year (Greater Manchester) SME 2020

Won – High Sheriff SPECIAL Recognition Award- Eamon O’Neal DL High Sheriff 2020

Won – Services to Law – British Muslim Awards 2016

Finalist – Young Achiever of the Year – The English Asian Business Awards 2015

Akhter, N. (2024) The Impact of Measure Post Covid on the Criminal Justice System to Reduce the Backlog of Cases. American Journal of Biomedical Science and Research. Volume 2. Issue Number 6. Pages: 601:604. AJBSR.MS.ID.002894.pdf (biomedgrid.com)

  • Trustee at Action Together 2022 to present
  • Parliamentary Political Liaison Office at Oldham Law Association 2015 to present
  • Member of the Valuation Tribunal 2018 to present
  • President of Oldham Law Association 2014-2015
  • Vice President of Oldham Law Association 2013-2014
  • Governor at Oldham Sixth Form College 2013-2015
  • Committee Member at Manchester Law Society 2009-2011
  • Student Advisor at Manchester University 2003-2011
  • Associate Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University 2003-2011
  • Trustee at Rochdale Citizen Advocacy 2000-2012

Sahar Ali

Sahar has always been passionate about providing fair representation for her clients and levelling the playing field. She believes in transparency, strategic case composition and thorough planning which enables her high success rates.

Sahar is a associate member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives working as part of the team

Sahar has had over 20 years’ of experience in acting for Claimants on a variety of different types of claim; such as Occupiers’ Liability, Public Liability, RTA, CICA, Product Liability and Employment Liability. She has also gained experience in catastrophic injury, property law, immigration law and family law.

When asked what she enjoys most about her role,  she commented: “I enjoy working with people… Clients have usually been through so much before contacting us, so I am empathetic and ensure that they receive the best service possible”.

Sahar has experience in dealing with lots of organisations and agencies.  Over the 20 years she has built a good rapport with all stakeholders.

Sahar likes to organize charity events in the office, she is keen on providing for the homeless.

Nazrin Azad

Nazrin joined Platts Solicitors in January 2019 and commenced her training contract in March 2020, she qualified as a Solicitor in April 2023.

Nazrin has over 10 years of experience in dealing with complex matters within the legal sector both working in Manchester city centre firms as well as high street practices. She has always had a passion for law and was ambitious since her early years to work with people who need support solving problems in a direct and constructive way. She prides herself on having the skills of a good listener and being highly empathic and this is what encouraged her to practise specifically in immigration and family law.

At Platts Solicitors Nazrin specialises in all areas of immigration law including representing private clients with applications for leave to enter/remain in the UK, family and private life, human rights, visitor’s visa, citizenship applications, student visa, bail applications, appeals and judicial review.

Nazrin also deals with a broad range of family law matters at Platts Solicitors. These include divorce/dissolution & separation, financial settlements and helping victims of domestic violence. She has dealt with clients during what is often the most difficult time of their lives, providing them with a sensitive but yet professional service. She has considerable experience in dealing with private childcare arrangements, involving complex disputes with elements of domestic abuse, relocation, serious allegations of parental alienation, hostility, and substance misuse.

She has successfully represented clients of different nationalities including, Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi, Turkish, Nigerian, Libyan and Afghan clients and she find’s representing client’s by finding a solution to their matters extremely rewarding. Nazrin’s hard work has allowed many of her clients to move forward positively with their lives. She is passionate in getting her clients results and is complimented for her personable approach and true understanding of the law, enabling her to always represent her client’s best interests.

Nazrin will tenaciously fight for her clients until she gets them the results they desire. She is trilingual and speaks Bangla and Urdu fluently.

She enjoys working at Platts Solicitors as the dedication to our clients and a passion for the law is shared by the whole team. Nazrin describes Platts Solicitors as a committed law firm which delivers the very best professional legal service at its highest quality whilst being cost-effective. This service is provided equally for legal aid funded and private client work.

She is delighted to have been trained by multi award winning senior Lawyers with vast amount of practical, commercial, and legal experience in their field.  She has gained immense experience and training in meeting clients’ needs and fulfilling their expectations efficiently. Together the team at Platts Solicitors aim to build warm, straightforward, and friendly working relationships with clients, who come from all walks of life. Nazrin enjoys working between the two offices in Manchester and Oldham.

Nazrin is also a trustee for Age UK, Oldham. The organisation is an independent local charity that works in partnership with the Local Authority and NHS Oldham delivering services such as providing information and advice, home services, care support and social activities to older people in the local area.

In her spare time, Nazrin enjoys fundraising for charities, spending time with her family, reading, travelling, and dining out with friends.

Paul Bradbury

Paul is a very experienced solicitor who has expertise in both family and criminal law. Over the years he has been a member of the Law Society Children Panel and has acted in the full range of legal proceedings concerning children, specialising in care proceedings. He has also dealt with divorce and separation cases. He is a duty solicitor and appears in all the magistrates’ courts in Greater Manchester.

Paul was a social worker for many years before becoming a solicitor in 1991. Paul initially worked for Linder Myers in Salford before joining Platt Halpern in 1996 and becoming a partner.  Paul helped to set up Platts Solicitors and is a supervising solicitor in the firm.

Paul, with his exceptional skills and expertise, is known for meticulously preparing his clients’ cases, keeping at the forefront the importance of achieving an excellent outcome no matter how small or big the charges they are facing.  

Paul is a past President of Oldham Law Association and as a committee member he is actively involved in organizing events.  Paul is also a chorister, enjoys walking, cricket and fundraising for local charities.

Roger Lowe

Roger qualified as a Solicitor in 1977, and since then he has practised in several contentious and non-contentious areas of law, more recently specialising in criminal law.  

He has sat as a Deputy District Judge in the Magistrates’ court, throughout Northwest and North East England for over 20 years, which enables him to bring an entirely different perspective on the work which he does.  

Roger Lowe enjoys appearing in court and attending police stations to represent clients who come from all walks of life and are of all nationalities and ethnicities.  His work is both interesting and varied so that no two days are ever the same. Roger, with his expertise is always able to get clients the best results no matter what offence they are facing.

Roger is a past President of Oldham Law Association, and he remains as an active member of the committee.  Roger enjoys walking, football, cricket and fundraising for local charities.

Stella Massey

Stella Massey was called to the Bar in 1990 and for over 30 years practiced as a criminal law Barrister in Manchester.  

Stella has extensive experience in both prosecution and defence work and she practiced in all Courts, with particular expertise in the Crown Court and the Court of Appeal.

She has specialised in representing clients facing serious criminal allegations:

  • Murder
  • Offences against the person (attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, assaults)
  • Sexual offences
  • Fraud and dishonesty offences
  • Conspiracies
  • Proceeds of Crime Act cases.

In conducting cases for the defence, Stella has always worked closely with defence solicitors and clients:  she is a firm believer in maintaining ongoing contact with both as a means to obtaining thorough and detailed information which is used to challenge evidence and also to investigate avenues of evidence which have often proved to have revealed flaws in the prosecution case.

For example, she successfully argued that identification evidence should not be admitted in a case which relied heavily on identification because of flaws in the way in which the evidence had been obtained.  The trial Judge agreed with her assessment and the evidence was ruled to be inadmissible which resulted in an acquittal.

Another example involved the challenge of evidence of admissions of guilt, made during a police interview: following detailed submissions made on behalf of the defendant, the interviews were ruled to be inadmissible, and the prosecution was withdrawn.

Stella has been instructed to conduct cases on behalf of the prosecution: this has involved advising on evidence, procedures and ongoing investigation in order that appropriate and effective prosecutions can be launched.

In both defence and prosecution work, the interests of clients and the need to provide a first-class service are the foremost considerations.  This includes meetings with clients in conferences as well as providing regular updates and copies of all documents and written submissions to her clients.

Stella has particular interest in firstly, proceeds of crime matters, second in private prosecutions and thirdly in appeal cases especially those cases where people have been let down by the criminal justice system.

Her experience in prosecution work enables Stella to identify and present evidence and to pursue matters which may have been overlooked by the authorities.  In such cases a thorough knowledge of the rules of evidence and procedure is vital: examples include the pursuit of disclosure from the police and other sources and on the advice relating to the obtaining of effective witness statements and other evidence.

Regarding appeal cases, her many cases which have been taken to the Court of Appeal have given Stella a particular interest, especially those situations where people have been advised that there is little prospect of a success appeal.  With thorough investigation, such cases do reveal that there are matters which have been overlooked and which can result in positive appeals.

Stella has also represented many clients involved in Proceeds of Crime hearings. These cases require a meticulous approach to reviewing the evidence and financial circumstances of those clients.

One example is that of Mr. E: this is a recently concluded (2023) case.  Mr. E was arrested on suspicion of money laundering and was made subject of a Restraint Order in relation to numerous assets: a total of nine properties, five bank accounts, commercial business credit cards, building society accounts and a motor vehicle.  Mr. E had also transferred several thousand pounds of money between accounts which emanated from Bitcoin transactions.

In addition Mr. E had links to family members who had been involved in money laundering and who had absconded from the jurisdiction.

The police had successfully applied for a Restraint Order in respect of all of his finances but after thorough investigation of his circumstances and lengthy written submissions being made, the application was withdrawn and Mr. E was able to take control of his finances and business once again, without the case having to go to court.

Another area in which Stella will advise is that of online harassment, bullying and intimidation – particularly those cases where there is a potential impact upon businesses.  In these cases, it is appropriate, if possible to put an end to such conduct without recourse to Court proceedings and in those rare cases where this is not possible, to obtain the correct Order which will put an end to the illegal activity.

This is not the total staff here at Platts. We have several paralegals working in the office who support the main lawyers, as well as a range of support staff that we could not do without.