Maya Lal

Maya is a Senior Associate in the Regulatory team, based in the Norwich Office. Maya’s career has spanned nearly two decades, specialising in criminal defence and Public Law. Maya qualified as a Duty Solicitor in London, where she regularly appeared before a wide range of Magistrates' Courts and Police Stations, conducting her own advocacy. This involved being on the frontline representing detainees at police stations, vulnerable clients, including young people, those with complex mental health needs and victims of trafficking. Maya was instructed on representing those charged with Terrorism offences during the London bombing attacks (21/07). Maya has extensive experience working on police investigations led by Trident, Sapphire, Homicide Major Crime, Fraud and Counter-Terrorism Units. Maya was instructed on Court of Appeal case [2011] 1 Cr App Rep 35, [2010] EWCA Crim 2400, [2011] 1 Cr App R 35, prosecutions under s.31(7) of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1999 – refugees in possession of false passports, where the conviction was quashed. Maya went on to work in International Law, Human Rights and Public Law. Maya’s Public Law experience includes strategic judicial reviews and legal challenges against local authorities and public bodies. Maya was instructed on numerous challenges to local authorities in relation to the provision of accommodation and financial support to destitute children and adults with care needs acting on behalf of Claimants; R (M) v London Borough of Newham [2020] EWHC 327 Admin successful judicial review hearing, where the High Court Judge issued a mandatory order giving the local authority 12 weeks to secure that suitable accommodation is available to a claimant and his family. Maya also acted on behalf of campaigning groups challenging the closure of Snibston Discovery Museum and libraries across England. These challenges were pursuant to 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act, where local authorities in England and Wales have a duty to provide a "comprehensive and efficient library service". This means they have a duty to offer a broad range of library services and resources to meet the needs of their local populations. Maya was instructed on two leading and important inquiries: the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and the Undercover Policing Inquiry, and contributed to the Grenfell Inquiry. Maya is a member of the Law Society of England and Wales, Accredited Criminal Duty Solicitor/Police Station and London Criminal Courts Solicitors Association (LCCSA) Maya was admitted as a Solicitor in England and Wales in 2008 and has an LLM in Human Rights, which she obtained in 2012. Maya provides robust, strategic advice grounded in experience and compassion, ensuring that each client is heard, respected, and effectively represented throughout their case Maya is passionate about using the law as a tool to challenge injustice and defend the rights of those often overlooked or marginalised. Outside of work, Maya enjoys theatre, cooking and yoga. She is currently learning Ashtanga yoga.