Growing up working in his parents’ convenience store in central Scotland means he understands the dedication that it takes to run a successful family business – and he has real-world insight into how decisions around structure and strategy can truly affect operations.

They are experiences which have clearly shaped his own professional path, and he has developed a strong reputation among colleagues and peers alike.

Mr Ali, an associate in the corporate and technology team at Lindsays, was named Rising Star in Law at the Scottish Asian & Business Awards in December.

And it was recognition which came completely out of the blue for the Glasgow-based lawyer.

“I was surprised to be nominated – and even more shocked to win,” he admits. “People have been really kind with their comments since. It’s a nice feeling to be recognised.”

The award acknowledged not only Mr Ali’s journey in the profession so far, but his commitment to supporting businesses and communities, using his background to support others.

He says: “Having grown up working in my family business, I bring a practical understanding of how owner-managed companies operate. This has shaped my commercial awareness and the way I advise clients.

“I am also one of the few South Asian lawyers in Scotland specialising in corporate mergers and acquisitions, a role that allows me to support South Asian business owners who value having an adviser who shares their cultural background and understands their business environment.

“Clients have commented that they value working with someone who understands the cultural and practical considerations of minority-owned businesses, which is nice to hear.”

Mr Ali, who graduated from the University of Dundee with a first-class honours in Scots law and completed his diploma at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, is in his second spell with Lindsays. Having been with the team as a solicitor between 2021 and 2024, he returned as an associate in 2024.

He currently acts for a diverse client base, including SMEs, large international organisations, venture capital investors, banks and family businesses, with work covering corporate acquisitions and disposals, equity fundraising, commercial contracts, as well as corporate reorganisations and restructurings.

And he is the first person in his family to enter the legal profession.

“My parents didn’t have the opportunity to pursue further education, so they were keen on us doing that if we wanted to,” Mr Ali adds. “Law seemed a nice fit for my interests. As I learned more about corporate law at university, it really joined the dots in terms of my own family’s business and my interest has grown from there.

“Every client is different and I really enjoy learning about their businesses. As corporate lawyers, we get to enjoy a rich variety of work.”

One of the areas in which he has worked closely with colleagues is on the transition of businesses to employee ownership trusts (EOTs).

“Working on employee ownership transactions is really enjoyable. It’s a slightly different process to a trade sale and involves real collaborative working,” he notes.

Outside of the office he has his hands full with family. “My wife and I have a two year old daughter and we spend most of our time running around after her and trying to keep her entertained.”

He now also gets to spend time with his parents who are enjoying their well-earned retirement after having sold their business last year. They worked “from 7am-9pm, seven days a week” so “I am still getting used to sitting down with them for a catch up during the day”, he says.