Safi Bashardust

I am a proactive and confident individual who thrives on assisting others, whether this be assisting a client during his criminal legal battle in court to redacting client privileged documents in relation to a civil matter. I possess an excellent ability of working under tight deadlines and I pay great attention to detail. I am a confident speaker and always believe that communication is key. I have a strong work ethic and I am continuously determined to challenge myself towards further success and progression.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:

Simon Bethel Solicitors – Senior Paralegal – March 2023 – Present

• Representing defendants in all stages of a criminal prosecution, from police investigation to presenting their case at the Magistrates and Crown Court.
• Providing advice to clients via telephone and in person
• Reviewing documentation related to an offence and the case (including witness statements, police reports, forensic reports, medical records etc)
• Researching, planning and investigating matters
• Attending to clients at His Majesty’s Prisons in the UK. 
• Drafting legal documents
• Establishing a complete, accurate and compelling defence for the accused
• Supporting the accused by challenging evidence against them and interviewing witnesses to support their case.
• Communicating with the police, probation services and other law enforcement and criminal justice agencies

• Providing assistance within the Contentious Team, and responsible for the smooth running of tasks, including liaising professionally and efficiently with Lawyers and Clients on specific projects.
• Report on work in progress and any service issues to Transactional Team Manager.
• Drafting of contracts and agreements, due diligence, and document review.
• Due diligence and document review, DD reports and prospectuses, drafting of contracts and agreements, pre-and post-closing assistance, Verification Preparing bundles and bibles, set up and management of data rooms, Proof-reading, Redaction, Legal Research
• Sufficient gravitas and experience to work effectively with more senior colleagues including Partners, Managing Associates and Clients.
• Taking instructions from the practice on, and completing, miscellaneous ad hoc tasks as required

• Resolve compliance issues in such a way that balances the customer relationship with the maximization of the value of client’s Intellectual Property Rights.
• Working with the Licensing EMEA and wider team to develop and execute programs to drive compliance and audit pipeline ⋅
• Working with the wider team to educate target accounts with regards to software licensing and conducts account planning for strategic compliance deals ⋅
• Works to ensure the client’s IP is protected and the customers operate within a compliant environment ⋅
• Working to uncover and run sales cycles based on opportunities as directed by the Regional Sales Lead
• Dealing with clients from engagement to investigation, to enforcement.
• Communicating with IT managers and administrators to manage the collection and validation of IT-related information
• Analysing complex datasets using both Excel and custom KPMG tools
• Researching solutions to overcome technical challenges and contractual ambiguities

• Responsible for the casework of a large-scale litigation matter involving a worldwide security company as the client. 
• Assisting with casework relating to anti-competition and cartel activity accusations. 
• Liaising with senior partners and associates in relation to the client's requirements, the precise and detailed data to focus on whilst reviewing tenders, bids, bid-rigging agreements, cartel-like activity, etc.
• Assisting with reviewing governmental contracts.
• Assisting with redactions related to client privilege data, personal data, business secrets, etc.

• Responsible for drafting and executing all the Cartoon Network contractual agreements made across Europe, Middle East, and Africa between Warner Media and the licensees and/or agents.
• This ranged from Consumer Products License Agreements to Promotional Agreements, Merchandising Agreements, Live-Ticketing, Events, Meet & Greets, as well as any other Contractual Agreements assigned by the Legal Department.
• Responsible for drafting and executing all extensions and amendments necessary or requested for by the Licensor and/or Licensee.
• Detailed contractual reporting, including for the Licensing, Merchandising Accounts and Finance Team. 
• Key person for any routine queries from the Licensing, Merchandising Accounts and Finance Team.
• Working closely with the Senior Counsel, Vice President of the Franchise Development and Retail Marketing at Warner, the EMEA Territory Managers, the Legal Department and prioritizing and distributing any workload.
• Liaising with the Cartoon Network sales teams, licensees and agents throughout Europe, Middle East and Africa in order to ascertain that both parties’ terms have been taken into account and agreed.

• Worked on a large-scale and complex case litigation matter involving the European Commission and alleged breaches of EU - Anti-Competition Laws. 
• The client was a worldwide recognized car manufacturing brand. This involved reviewing and researching the European Commission File which consisted of around 40,000 documents, for any harmful or damaging information. 
• Liaising with senior partners and associates in relation to the client's requirements, the European Commission's hearing dates, strategic improvements, etc. 
• Second part of the review included re-reviewing documents that were redacted for leniency, client privilege or business secrets and had been forwarded to the European Commission. 

• Worked as a paralegal in the city for a top-tier international Law firm on an anti-competition matter.
• Duties included undertaking large complex document review work using digital litigation support software such as Relativity.
• Providing oversight of multiple document review matters and provide executive level decision making. 
• Identifying potentially legally privileged material and isolating the material appropriately.
• Reporting to a multi-disciplinary team all evidential and disclosable material revealed by the investigation and where appropriate, identify further lines of enquiry.

• Preparing and drafting the following letters/documents on a day-to-day basis: client care, advice, Magistrates and Crown Court Hearings/Trials, drafting the proof of evidence & Defence Case Statements. Further liaising and working with various Police Stations, Courts and Chambers on a daily basis. 
• Worked closely and assisted the firm’s partners and senior Solicitors with the majority of the Police Station, Magistrates Court and Crown Court files. 
• Attending client conferences and taking instructions from clients either in the office or in one of Her Majesty’s Prisons. 
• Attending and taking instructions from clients that have been sectioned under the Mental Health Act and liaising with the Mental Health Law Office. 
• Attend Court, Chambers or Police Station ID Parades in order to assist the counsel or client on the case I have assisted on.
• Contacting and liaising with family members of those who have been detained or sectioned.
• Great knowledge of using the Crown Court Digital Case System.

• Duties included to shadow-work the solicitor, draft letters, visit Courts and Immigration Tribunals, assisting in the admin queries, attending client conferences. 
• This initially started as a 2-week work experience placement during my GCSE’s, however as my Senior admired my work ethic and enthusiasm, I was asked to return and work on my days-off and holidays. 

• English – Primary fluency 
• Dutch – Primary fluency
• Flemish – Primary fluency
• Farsi/Dari – Primary fluency

• 2019 – 2022 - BPP Law School

• 2012 – 2015 University of Bedfordshire 

• 2004 - 2007 Het Rembrandt College, Utrecht, the Netherlands