Fatima Jama

Fatima is developing a busy defence practice in all areas of Chambers’ work. A considerable part of her practice includes private instructions. Fatima is also increasingly instructed to defend allegations of serious drug and firearms offences in the youth court, which often raise issues of gang affiliation, county lines, and modern slavery. Alongside this, Fatima is currently assisting a senior member of chambers in an on-going substantial private prosecution case involving allegations of multi-million-pound fraud.

Fatima undertakes publicly funded as well as private work, including pre and post-charge advice. Fatima has represented a broad range of professionals including company directors and accountants. She is known for her innovative, thorough approach, and common touch with clients.

Fatima has published several articles with a particular focus on general crime, white-collar crime and financial regulation. Her articles have appeared on Lexology, The Expert Witness Journal and Financial Regulation International.

Prior to commencing pupillage, Fatima worked at the Financial Conduct Authority for 5 years, in the Enforcement and Market Oversight Division, initially assisting in investigations involving allegations of market misconduct. Fatima was then promoted to a position in the Market Integrity Unit where she identified and developed cases involving breaches of the UK listing regime.

Fatima also worked in the business crime and regulatory department of a City firm. She assisted in the defence of the Serious Fraud Office’s case for one of the defendants suspected of EURIBOR manipulation and worked on regulatory matters investigated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board.

During her time as a criminal caseworker at two separate criminal defence solicitors’ firms, Fatima managed a diverse caseload including historic sexual offences, terrorism, firearms, fraud, drug and violent offences and conspiracy matters.

Fatima has always strived to maintain a busy pro bono practice alongside her professional commitments. Her various pro bono endeavours include:

• Working as a Trade Union Representative providing employment advice and representation at workplace meetings.
• Providing advice on benefits applications and appeals at a legal advice clinic.
• Mentoring prisoners in two separate prisons, to assist offenders in transitioning back into the community after serving lengthy custodial sentences.

Fatima currently acts as a mentor in The Judicial Reverse Mentoring scheme where she mentors a Circuit Judge. Fatima also acts as a mentor in the Young Bar Mentoring Scheme where she coaches others in successfully obtaining pupillage.