An ex-Ince & Co partner who stole millions of pounds from clients has set up a new firm after being released from prison.
Andrew Iyer has launched IYLegal, which according to its website provides "first class legal expertise and experience" and "award-winning service". It features glowing testimonials from The Legal 500 ("Iyer continues to glean high praise from clients") and Chambers ("He is the whole package!") and describes Iyer as "a leading Commercial Lawyer".
What is not mentioned is that Iyer was struck off and sentenced to four years and eight months in prison in 2013 for defrauding Ince & Co and its clients of £3 million. It was also revealed during Iyer's trial that he tried to secure an OBE by pretending to be a cancer specialist. Writing as the fictional 'Elizabeth Herring', Iyer lied to the Cabinet Office that he had raised £1.8 million for charity. RollOnFriday discovered that he'd also been using Herring (and "Robert Harris, Book Reviewer - The Guardian") to give his own book rave reviews on Amazon.
Buried on Iyer's website is a note that, despite appearances, IYLegal is not a firm of solicitors (nor regulated by the SRA) and the quotes and reference to awards date back to Iyer's career "while he was practising as a solicitor". Which does sound better than "before he went to prison and was struck off", although anyone using a Microsoft product to write about the business is given a subliminal clue:
A source told RollOnFriday that Iyer has been asking ex-clients to give him their business: "a pretty bold move for a fraudster". However, Iyer said that it was actually ex-clients who stayed in touch who gave him the idea to re-enter the legal market.
Iyer told RollOnFriday, "I acknowledge and deeply regret my wrongdoings of the past. I was a fool and I deserved everything I got". But, "in prison I threw myself into the rehabilitation programme and now I’m just trying to rebuild my life”. Iyer said, “whether this venture works or fails we’ll have to see. I’m trying to offer an affordable service and a very flexible approach to legal cost to benefit clients, by keeping fees low; something which I am told City law firms don’t always manage to do”.
Tip Off ROF
Andrew Iyer has launched IYLegal, which according to its website provides "first class legal expertise and experience" and "award-winning service". It features glowing testimonials from The Legal 500 ("Iyer continues to glean high praise from clients") and Chambers ("He is the whole package!") and describes Iyer as "a leading Commercial Lawyer".
What is not mentioned is that Iyer was struck off and sentenced to four years and eight months in prison in 2013 for defrauding Ince & Co and its clients of £3 million. It was also revealed during Iyer's trial that he tried to secure an OBE by pretending to be a cancer specialist. Writing as the fictional 'Elizabeth Herring', Iyer lied to the Cabinet Office that he had raised £1.8 million for charity. RollOnFriday discovered that he'd also been using Herring (and "Robert Harris, Book Reviewer - The Guardian") to give his own book rave reviews on Amazon.
A reformed Iyer yesterday |
Buried on Iyer's website is a note that, despite appearances, IYLegal is not a firm of solicitors (nor regulated by the SRA) and the quotes and reference to awards date back to Iyer's career "while he was practising as a solicitor". Which does sound better than "before he went to prison and was struck off", although anyone using a Microsoft product to write about the business is given a subliminal clue:
That's...unfortunate |
A source told RollOnFriday that Iyer has been asking ex-clients to give him their business: "a pretty bold move for a fraudster". However, Iyer said that it was actually ex-clients who stayed in touch who gave him the idea to re-enter the legal market.
Iyer told RollOnFriday, "I acknowledge and deeply regret my wrongdoings of the past. I was a fool and I deserved everything I got". But, "in prison I threw myself into the rehabilitation programme and now I’m just trying to rebuild my life”. Iyer said, “whether this venture works or fails we’ll have to see. I’m trying to offer an affordable service and a very flexible approach to legal cost to benefit clients, by keeping fees low; something which I am told City law firms don’t always manage to do”.
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Sorry Andrew.
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Perhaps the answer lies in such independent oversight?
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