Leila Ghahhary

About Leila

Leila Ghahhary is a barrister at Ghahhary Thomas LLP whose practice spans public, regulatory, and international law. She routinely acts in large-scale, high-profile matters, including public inquiries and inquests; she currently serves as counsel for the UK Government's Cabinet Office and 10 Downing Street in the UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry and recently acted as counsel to Canada's Foreign Interference Inquiry. She has also acted for bereaved families in the Manchester Arena Inquiry, for the UK Information Commissioner in the Northern Ireland Renewable Heat Incentive Inquiry, and in the Hillsborough Inquests. Ghahhary has been appointed to several UK specialist counsel panels, including the UK Attorney General's Panel of Counsel and the UK Equality and Human Rights Commission Panel of Counsel. Prior to joining the UK independent Bar in 2012, she spent 10 years working in-house as a local government lawyer, handling a broad range of public law, civil, criminal, and regulatory matters. In 2023 she completed a Master of Laws with Honours at Columbia Law School, graduating as a Kent Scholar and receiving the Parker School Certificate of Achievement in International and Comparative Law.

Education & credentials

Other degrees

LL.M. (Honours), Columbia Law School, 2023 (Kent Scholar)