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— Criminal Defence · Surrey, BC

Criminal defence for people who cannot afford a conviction.

Charges handled with urgency, strategy, and discretion — protecting your record, your reputation, and your livelihood through every stage of the process.

— Overview

The first days after a charge decide more than the trial.

GSG's criminal defence practice is led by Aalam Baga, who acts for clients facing charges across Surrey and the Lower Mainland. The approach is direct and strategic: secure release on the best terms, get full disclosure early, test the Crown's case against the Charter, and resolve or fight from a position of preparation rather than hope.

For professionals, business owners, and anyone whose work depends on a clean record, a criminal charge threatens far more than the sentence — employment, licensing, travel, and immigration status can all turn on the outcome. We defend the whole picture, and where a charge touches family, business, or immigration issues, the rest of the firm is down the hall.

— What we handle

Criminal defence services.

I.Bail hearings & release conditions
II.Assault & domestic charges
III.Theft, fraud & property offences
IV.Impaired driving & driving prohibitions
V.Drug offences
VI.Firearms & weapons charges
VII.Charter applications & pre-trial motions
VIII.Trials & sentencing
— Common questions

What clients usually ask first.

I've been arrested or contacted by police. What should I do first?+
Identify yourself, then exercise your right to silence and ask to speak to a lawyer immediately. Do not explain your side to police — anything you say can be used against you, and well-meaning explanations routinely become the Crown's best evidence. Call counsel before any interview, not after.
Will a charge show up on my record even if I'm not convicted?+
Charges that are withdrawn, stayed, or end in acquittal don't produce a conviction record, but fingerprints and police records of the incident can persist and appear on some background checks. These can often be addressed through record destruction requests once the matter concludes — something we build into the end of every file.
What's the difference between summary and indictable offences?+
Summary offences are less serious, tried in Provincial Court with lighter maximum penalties. Indictable offences are more serious, can carry significant prison terms, and may give the accused a choice of court and a jury. Many offences are hybrid — the Crown chooses how to proceed, and that choice affects everything downstream.
Do I really need a lawyer for a first offence?+
Yes — the first offence is precisely where the most options exist. Alternative measures, diversion, and peace-bond resolutions can keep a first-time accused free of a criminal record entirely, but these outcomes are negotiated, not automatic. Early counsel shapes the outcome more than anything else you can do.
— Begin

A conversation, before a case.

If you've been charged or expect to be, time matters. Call (778) 262-2835 or send a confidential inquiry — every conversation is privileged.