New Appointments In Leeds Office

Irwin Mitchell's leading Yorkshire business crime and regulatory team has made two key captures.

New to the Yorkshire regulation and investigations unit are senior solicitor Sabeeha Khan and solicitor Gary O'Reilly, now working full-time from the firm's West Yorkshire offices in Queen Street, Leeds.

Ms Khans new role at Irwin Mitchell will concentrate mainly on regulatory matters involving health and safety and the environment.

Mr O'Reilly will be specialising in high profile, complex fraud cases, involving organisations such as the Serious Fraud Office and HM Revenue & Customs. These appointments follow an increasing number of cases arising from clients in Yorkshire and across the north of England.

Reading-born Ms Khan, 37, has joined from Morgan Cole, in Oxford, where she worked as a solicitor in the regulatory team for 12 years.

Ms Khan said: "I am very excited at the prospect of developing a thriving and profitable team within the regulatory and investigations group.

"I have substantial experience in the field and I'm keen to replicate the success I achieved in my last firm, helping in the continued expansion of the department."
 
County Armagh-born Mr O'Reilly, 32, has joined from O'Garras, of Park Square, Leeds, where he worked initially as a paralegal on complex fraud cases before beginning a training contract, specialising in criminal and serious fraud, and qualifying as a lawyer in June 2005.
 
In his new role, Mr O'Reilly will also handle Financial Services Authority investigations and enquires from the Department of Trade and Industry.

Mr O'Reilly said: "I'm really looking forward to working for Irwin Mitchell, renowned in the region for its work on white collar crime and with a wide breadth of expertise, which I hope to augment.

"I'm also excited at the prospect of working on national cases, such as the current case of two people under investigation by the City of London Police over alleged horserace fixing."

Welcoming the new recruits, Sarah Cleary-Sharpe, Yorkshire Regulation and Investigations team Partner with Irwin Mitchell, said: "Were delighted to the have Sabeeha and Gary on board, further strengthening the northern team, which is currently spread between Leeds and Sheffield.

"We are well placed to carry out health and safety and other quasi criminal investigations due to our experience on the frontline doing fraud work. Sabeeha and Gary's appointments are the first of a number of appointments of experienced lawyers that we planning to take on - watch this space!

"We also have an eye on Manchester where the firm recently opened offices. With a base in Yorkshire and offices in Newcastle, Manchester and Birmingham we can service clients from most areas of the north and midlands and have a case load that demonstrates this."

Ms Khan gained an honours degree in law at Cardiff University before attending Guildford College of Law, to complete her Law Society finals.

After beginning her law career as a trainee at Blandy & Blandy in Reading, Ms Khan moved to Morgan Cole in 1993, as a newly qualified solicitor, initially undertaking criminal work.

She then specialised in representing clients of insurance companies in connection with road traffic accidents, inquests and businesses that had fallen foul of health and safety legislation, trading standards and environmental prosecutions.

In her spare time, Ms Khan enjoys cooking, travelling and entertaining, with her husband Shb and children, Zakariya, three, and Sami, two, at their home in Roundhay.

Mr OReilly gained an honours degree in law from the University of Wales, before attending Leeds Metropolitan University, to complete his postgraduate diploma in legal practise.

He enjoys socialising and keeping fit, with a keen interest in football, golf and horse racing.

London-based senior partner and nationally-renowned business crime expert Kevin Robinson set up Irwin Mitchell's regulations and investigations unit eight years ago. Mr Robinson runs the London team, which covers the south of England.