Zaqia Rashid

Zaqia is an Equity Partner and Head of the Public Inquiries and Public Law team at TLT solicitors.

Previously, Zaqia worked for Central Government for over 25 years, most recently heading up the Government’s Public Inquiries, Reviews and Litigation Team.  Within that role, she managed the workflows for some of the highest profile public inquiries and reviews in the UK.  This included the Horizon Post Office Inquiry (allegations of fraud and IT issues), British Virgin Islands Commission of Inquiry (investigation into corruption), Medical Devices Review (health concerns into female contraceptives), Infected Blood Inquiry (representing witness interests), Brook House Inquiry (allegations of abuse in a Home Office Detention Centre) and the Daniel Morgan Inquiry (representing the Home Secretary in relation to the Final Report).

Zaqia has advised and provided training to Ministers setting up public inquiries and those appearing before inquiries to provide evidence.  She supported and acted for Chairs on inquiries on a daily basis, including Wendy Williams on the Windrush Review and Steve Holliday on the Magnox Inquiry.  She has further represented core participants and advised individuals in engaging with inquiries both as core participants and witnesses.

Following 9/11, Zaqia moved to specialise in national security work and was instructed by the UK Government to prevent disclosure of material in the Edward Snowdon related litigation, before moving to work at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on national security litigation.

As a practising Muslim and a woman from an ethnic minority background, Zaqia prides herself on a dynamic and inclusive approach to her work.