Leila Mariam Ghahhary

Leila is a highly regarded international barrister with expertise spanning public, regulatory and international law. A formidable litigator, renowned for her tenacity, strategic acumen, precision judgment, and excellence in advocacy. Leila routinely acts in large scale, complex, high-profile matters of national significance where she provides legal advice and representation at the highest levels. Leila is consistently ranked by major professional guides as a leading top tier barrister.

Recognized for her commanding and authoritative presence in court and depth of expertise in complex legal matters, she represents government departments, corporate entities, individuals and a variety of public and private organisations before a range of courts, tribunals and constitutional panels across a multitude of jurisdictions, legal areas and high-stakes disputes.

Leila has an outstanding reputation in the field of public inquiries and inquests. She currently acts as Counsel for the UK Government’s Cabinet Office and No.10 Downing Street in the UK Covid19 Public Inquiry and recently acted as Counsel to Canada’s Foreign Interference Inquiry. Leila has also acted for the bereaved families in the Manchester Arena Inquiry, the UK Information Commissioner in relation to the Northern Ireland Renewable Heat Incentive Inquiry (‘Cash for Ash scandal’), as Counsel to the Gosport Independent Panel Inquiry, and in the Hillsborough Inquests which are the longest set of inquests in British history.

Leila’s extensive experience of acting in large complex regulatory cases, includes the largest ever UK trading standards prosecution against a group of UK energy companies and directors, in which Leila, along with other members of the prosecution team, received high praise from the trial judge for their management and conduct of this especially complex, voluminous and challenging case.