Our Committee
Hanisha Patel
AAWL Executive Chair
Barrister, 7 Bedford Row
hpatel@7br.co.uk
www.7br.co.uk
Hanisha is a Child and Family Law Barrister at 7 Bedford Row. She undertakes both private and public law children cases and represents local authorities, parents, guardians and children. Her caseload includes cases involving serious physical and sexual abuse against children. Hanisha has also represented local authorities, the police, respondents and applicants in forced marriage and FGM cases. Hanisha is public access qualified.
When not working, Hanisha enjoys travelling, reading, going to the theatre and fine dining.
Rina Sond
AAWL Vice Chair
IP Lawyer, Rina Sond & Associates
Rina is an Intellectual Property Solicitor and runs her own legal consultancy business, Rina Sond & Associates. She left the corporate world after 22 years, having worked for law firms in the City, the West End and the regions. She now specialises in helping innovative businesses get clarity on their intellectual property issues and commercial contracts.
Rina is an Allied Member of the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys and is passionate about brands and brand protection. Rina has been an AAWL Committee member since 2012 and is currently Vice Chair. She is passionate about diversity and equal opportunities for all.
When not working, Rina enjoys socialising with friends and family, travelling, skiing and reading.
Asha Vekaria
AAWL Social Media Co-ordinator
Senior Clinical Case Manager (Solicitor), NHS Resolution
Asha qualified as a Solicitor in 2003 and was the first in her family to go to University. Asha comes from a State School background and decided to do a 4 year thin sandwich course degree in Law as she felt this would give her practical legal experience in a competitive world. She was offered a work placement at a North London Firm who offered her a Training Contract, on completion of the LPC. The rest, as they say is history.
Asha spent the majority of her career representing Claimants making Personal Injury claims and whilst spending over 9 years at Irwin Mitchell, helped many amputees and brain-injured clients. In 2015, Asha decided to take a career break and spend time with her young children. Asha had no idea what the future held career-wise thereafter.
Asha now works at NHS Resolution. As a full time working Mum of 2, this role provides her with a great deal of flexibility, which she realised she was missing whilst in private practice. Asha is especially passionate about diversity and Women’s rights and likes to provide a voice anyone who needs it. At home, Asha loves watching sports and reading. She tries to go to as many Football, Cricket and Tennis matches as she can fit in around work and family life.
Dipika Aggarwal
General Counsel
Dipika is an experienced commercial lawyer and she works as General Counsel for a technology company. She trained and qualified at Linklaters in 2006, following which she worked as an in-house lawyer for PepsiCo for six years. She has experience working as a legal consultant and she is a freelance legal tutor on the LPC and PGDL at BPP University. Dipika has mentored law students through the Law Society’s Diversity Access Scheme, supporting aspiring lawyers to enter the legal profession.
Sundeesh Makkar
Solicitor, Morr & Co LLP
Sundeesh is a Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Solicitor at Morr & Co LLP. She represents clients who have been seriously injured in accidents or as a result of negligent medical treatment. Sundeesh is passionate about supporting her clients throughout the claims process, assisting with accessing rehabilitation treatment, and achieving settlements for them.
In her spare time, Sundeesh enjoys reading, baking, yoga and getting creative.
Aneesah Ijaz
Student
Aneesah is currently completing the BPC at the University of Law and is a member of The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple. She has a passion for human rights and hopes to specialise as a human rights barrister. Prior to this, she completed a masters in International Development Law and Human Rights.
Aneesah joined the committee in 2021.
In her spare time she enjoys travelling, crocheting and going to the gym.
Ayanthi Perera
Ayanthi recently completed the BPTC and was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2020. She has an LLM in Public International Law and is currently working as a paralegal at the Government Legal Department. She is an aspiring barrister awaiting pupillage, hoping to go into the areas of crime/international law.
Her interests include swimming and theatre.
She joined AAWL in November 2021, she hopes to create exciting events and opportunities for aspiring lawyers (solicitors and barristers) through creating podcasts to demystify the profession, networking events, and mentoring schemes for guidance.
Haravneet Jabble
Haravneet joined Creighton & Partners as a paralegal in the Child Care department in 2021 and went on to start her training contract within the firm in 2022.
Haravneet undertook her undergraduate and Masters in History before going on to complete the Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course, with an LLM.
In her spare time, Haravneet enjoys listening to podcasts, reading and experiencing new food.
Jaymini Katira
Associate
TLT Solicitors
Jaymini works at TLT Solicitors in the Public Inquiry and Public Law team. She is currently working on the Undercover Policing Inquiry and previously represented the Department of Health on the Infected Blood Inquiry.
Outside of work Jaymini has a keen interest in Pro Bono work and is also a Trustee for Headway Northwest and North London, which is a brain injury charity. She is involved in fundraising and also takes an active role in the management of the charity.
Rakhi Chowhan
Leader of North West Region/Committee
Senior Solicitor specialising in serious injury claims
Rakhi is a leading Personal Injury Solicitor with in-depth experience in dealing with claims including road traffic, motorcycle and fatal collision claims, chronic pain, and public and employer liability claims.
Her main specialism is in disputed motorcycle collision claims.
She specialises in mild to moderate brain injuries involving neurological rehabilitation, spinal cord injury, poly-trauma, shoulder/clavicle fractures and complex knee injuries.
Rubina Khanom
Member of the North West Committee
Chartered Legal Executive
rubina.khanom@howellsllp.com
www.howellsllp.com
Rubina is a Chartered Legal Executive Lawyer specialising in clinical negligence. She has over 5 years’ experience in dealing with clinical negligence claims and is well practised in litigating high value cases. She deals with a broad range of clinical negligence claims with varied value including cases involving catastrophic brain and spinal injuries.
Rubina is a keen supporter of diversity and inclusion with the legal profession and regularly mentors aspiring lawyers and law students, particularly from a minority ethic background. She has presented at universities and has written articles upon this issue. Her work has led to a shortlist for the CILEx Advancing the Legal Profession Award 2018.
In her spare time, Rubina enjoys blogging about her travels at www.withloverubina.com and keeping active by going to the gym.