Fatima Laher
Profile
Fatima is a relentlessly determined advocate with a breadth of experience across a range of offences, including sexual and violence offences, offences involving fraud, drug offences, and firearms. She has joined chambers after spending two years prosecuting for the Crown Prosecution Service where she experienced considerable success in securing convictions for offences involving violence, thefts, public order offences and possession of bladed articles. She is now able to use her experience to offer useful tactical advice to her clients.
She is recognised for her calm, clear and practical approach to cases as well as her strong interpersonal skills which allow her to develop a strong rapport with her clients. Fatima is always thorough, personable, and professional. She is always clear when explaining the law and procedure and has regularly received positive feedback from vulnerable witnesses who have praised her for her approachable manner, accessible style and her ability to provide clear, practical and realistic advice. She is a robust and knowledgeable advocate who is always willing to go the extra mile and is known known to be a scrupulously fair and highly effective prosecutor.
She has an excellent academic record, obtaining a distinction for the BPTC LLM and graduating top of her year in Law at BPP Law University. She has received awards for the highest mark in Contract and Criminal Law across all BPP Universities.
Expertise
R v MIA: Instructed as junior counsel on a 6-9 week complex fraud and money laundering trial involving 4 defendants. Due to numerous issues such as lack of disclosure by the crown and an abuse of process argument, the crown offered no evidence to all charges on the day of trial.
R v IM: Co-defending in a 4-day trial: fraud and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
R v RL: Instructed on a multi-handed Encrochat trial involving numerous complex issues.
R v YC: Instructed on a 4-day trial: Complex Fraud involving the NHS.
R v GB: Instructed on a 3-day trial: Man of good character in possession of extreme images of animals.
R v SJ: Multi-handed GBH with intent resulting in serious injury.
R v TW: 3-day burglary trial at Bradford CC.
R v FA: Successful appeal against conviction and sentence.
R v SM: Successfully represented a client for 15+ offences, resulting in acquittal.
R v AH: Following successful mitigation for an offence of dangerous driving, the defendant received a short community order, avoiding a lengthy custodial sentence.
R v BM: 3-day burglary trial involving 2 defendants.
R v FO: Sentence for a charge of conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs: community order
R v FR: Successful appeal against conviction and sentence
R v AK: POCA proceedings involving numerous properties.
Recommendations
On every case I have ever instructed Fatima on, she has never let me down. The relationship she creates with the client to make them feel comfortable is exceptional.
On a recent case, we had a case transferred to us in which the client was charged on a fraud. The client had already sacked 3 firms and we were the fourth to take over. I instructed Fatima to deal with the case. Following the hearing the client contacted me and informed me that Fatima had spent almost 2 hours with him following the hearing in a consultation in court. He informed me that the advice she gave to him was the best so far. This shows the quality of work that Fatima can carry out despite being new in the field.
Fatima from my personal experience will always give as much time as a case requires and make sure the solicitors who instruct her have no complaints at all from their clients. "—Mohammed Omar Saleem, Director Lexis Solicitors
I am certain Fatima will achieve a lot more in this profession and she is a well prepared and highly competent lawyer and advocate"—Sav Khan, Eldwick law
Appointments/Memberships
- The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn
Miscellaneous
LLB Hons (Law) (1st class Honours)
Bar Professional Training Course LLM (Distinction)
Gujarati