London lawyer disciplined after false Irish Bar claim

A lawyer serving with one of London’s biggest legal firms has been forced to quit and has been suspended as a barrister for three years after an investigation showed that he had invented most of his CV, including his claim to being a member of the Bar in Ireland.

In a ruling on September 30th, the Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service in London found that Dennis O’Riordan had “engaged in conduct which was dishonest or otherwise discreditable to a barrister” for over five years.

He had claimed "false educational or other qualifications', including first class honours in Arts and Law from Oxford, along with a DPhil from there. He also claimed to be an Eldon Scholar and a member of the New York and Irish Bars

“He did not attend Oxford University as an undergraduate, and was not awarded a BA or BCL or a D Phil or an Eldon Scholarship by that university. Further he is not, and has never been, a member of either the New York or Irish Bars,” said the tribunal’s official ruling.

The tribunal, which had been asked to adjudicate by the Bar Standards Board, also found that O'Riordan, known as Thomas to colleagues in Paul Hastings, had never been awarded a first class degree by the University of East Anglia, nor had he received a Master's degree from Harvard.

Profile taken down
His official company profile was hurriedly taken down after news of the disciplinary tribunal's three-year suspension order spread. He does have the right of appeal, but it is not known if he will exercise it.

The five-strong disciplinary body found that he had "engaged in conduct which was dishonest or otherwise discreditable to a barrister" in November 2008 by having information about his alleged education posted falsely on his company's website.

Successful career
The decision by the disciplinary board was taken last Monday week, but Mr O'Riordan left Paul Hastings only on Wednesday. Up to then, he had enjoyed a highly-successful career, serving as a partner for three years from 2009.

O'Riordan joined Paul Hastings in 2009 when it bought the London legal firm, Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft, according to the legal magazine, The Lawyer. It also reported that he had previously served with two other legal chambers in London.

“We learned yesterday that a consultant to the London office, Tom O’Riordan, exaggerated his academic qualifications. Mr O’Riordan is a barrister and his professional body, the Bar Standards Board, has successfully brought disciplinary proceedings against him. Mr O’Riordan left the firm yesterday with immediate effect,” the company said.

He was disciplined by the Bar Standards Board because he had returned part-time to the Bar in London, where he acted on regulatory work for Paul Hastings.