Essex law firm recruits new Head of Regulatory

Birkett Long is delighted to announce the appointment of Tej Thakkar as the new Head of Regulatory.  His appointment enables Birkett Long to implement a newly formed practice area at the firm. As a result, the firm will be well placed to service existing clients and attract prospective clients requiring expertise across the broad spectrum of regulatory issues and where allegations are made attracting criminal liability. 

Tej has a wealth of experience and exposure to a diverse blend of work and clientele, in a multitude of sectors, across the broad spectrum of regulatory issues. The substantial areas of work undertaken by his regulatory practice at Birkett Long include (but are not limited to):

• Regulatory compliance
• Privately funded criminal defence
• Fraud and bribery
• Motoring offences
• Transport and haulage
• Health and safety
• Licensing  
• Professional disciplinary investigation and proceedings

Tej said: “I believe my ability to conduct work across a full range of the regulatory and criminal defence sphere makes me well-suited to implement the practice and lend support to both practice and sector orientated teams at the firm. I like that Birkett Long is a modern thinking firm that thrives on providing an atmosphere and environment upon which all of its staff are best placed to provide the firm’s clients with an exemplary service and experience.”

Whilst still at school, Tej developed a keen interest in law resulting in work experience with a Magistrate at the Courts in his local area. This experience was invaluable and cemented his desire to pursue a legal career. Tej graduated with a degree in Law with Business from Brighton University. In his final year, he secured employment with Sussex Police in the role of a case administrator, enabling him to witness first-hand the manner in which cases progressed through the Criminal Justice System. Thereafter, he enrolled at the College of Law, Bloomsbury, and completed the Legal Practice Course in 2008. 

Having completed his academic qualifications, Tej became a member of the Dispute Resolution Team at a Magic Circle firm, where he remained for a period of three years. The role afforded him the opportunity to be actively involved in a number of high-profile cases that were widely publicised. In addition, he was elected to undergo two client secondments: the first to undertake a substantive document review process at the client’s office in Geneva; and secondly, within the legal team at the London Stock Exchange. It provided Tej with a vital opportunity to become fully immersed in the commercial dealings undertaken by the firm’s clients and to truly observe how the legal work carried out added value to their business. 

In 2011, Tej elected to relocate back to Norwich and subsequently joined a local law firm’s Regulatory and Defence Team. Having already secured his training contract at this firm he initially joined as a paralegal. Tej was involved with all aspects of a substantial criminal case, which centred upon the co-founders (and others) of an oil and gas company being alleged to have been party to a multimillion-pound corrupt agreement to pay ‘kickbacks’ to secure lucrative contracts. 

Much of his training contract remained within this Regulatory and Defence practice area and, having been offered a newly qualified position very early on, he subsequently qualified and was admitted to the roll of solicitors in April 2014. Tej was then promoted to Associate level in May 2018. 

Tej’s ability to provide clients with proactive advice and representation in a clear, pragmatic and commercially astute manner aligned with their objectives has been acknowledged through local press and former client testimonials, as well as him being recognised by the Legal 500 as a ‘rising star’ and ‘next generation lawyer’. 

His reputation in his field of expertise has resulted in invitations from regulatory bodies such as the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, to provide training seminars. 

Tej is keen to explore opportunities to assist those from less privileged backgrounds in securing job opportunities perhaps in a mentoring role to assist with applications, interviews and careers.

With a varied interest in sports, Tej has played rugby, football and tennis to a good standard but following various injuries his enjoyment now comes from the sidelines. Having lived in flats for the majority of his life Tej has developed an interest in gardening now he finally has a garden and his weekends are frequently spent exploring the local area with his young daughter.