Our Team

Raj Veja Barrister

What clients have said about Raj, “Raj has wisdom and experience, approachable, honest, dedicated and passionate in Court ”

Qualifications:

• Admitted on the Solicitors Roll 1988
• Duty Solicitor 1992
• Solicitor Higher Court Advocate 1999
• Accredited Specialist Fraud Panel Supervisor 2005
• Barrister called to the Criminal Bar 2015

Profile

Raj founded the firm in 1997. Raj has 31 years experience in Criminal defence work. He has extensive trial and case preparation experience in preparing High value Fraud, money laundering and large drugs conspiracy cases. He has prepared 19 murder cases for trial and was instructed as junior trial counsel for one in the Old Bailey. Raj has been instructed on, prepared or supervised preparation in an estimated 2000 or more criminal cases. Raj takes a proactive approach to case preparation. He has conducted defence enquiries abroad personally, at great risk, sometimes to trace witnesses in Jamaica, New York and assisted in enquiries in South Africa, Spain, India and Belgium. Raj has worked with very skilled and prominent barristers over the years which has included Michael Mansfield QC, Patriack O’Connor, QC, Joe Stone QC, Sir Jonah walker Smith and Narita Bahra.

Memberships

• Criminal Bar Association
• Law Society
• London Criminal Courts Solicitors Association

E: raj@vejaandco.com T: 0208 581 1502 (extension 805)

Gita Veja

Gita Veja co-founded the practice with Raj Veja in 1997. Having originally qualified as a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives, she later converted her qualification by passing the Legal Practice Course with commendation and was admitted on the Roll of Solicitors. Gita further gained a Master of Laws in 2017. Gita is instrumental in the management and development of the practice since its opening in 1997. Gita is a constant driving force in the running of the firm with the assistance of the managers. Gita is directly responsible for the initiating, implementing and monitoring the achievements of the firm’s strategic, professional and financial goals. Gita is passionate in helping those who most need it, which is obvious in her commitment to Veja & Co. Gita specializes in Criminal litigation where she has been instructed on and prepared cases relating drugs offences, sexual offences, fraud, violent assaults, firearms and domestic violence to name a few. Gita takes a proactive approach to case preparation.

• • E: gita.veja@vejaandco.com​

• T: 0208 581 1502 (806)

Mandeep Randhawa

Mandeep having obtained a Law (LLB) Degree from King’s College London joined the firm in 2007, as a trainee solicitor. He successfully completed his two year training contract and qualified as a solicitor. He now specializes in Family Law and has considerable experience in Care proceedings, Children matters, Divorce, Domestic Abuse and Financial Relief upon divorce matters. He attends court regularly as an advocate and undertakes both private and legally aided matters. E: mandeep.randhawa@vejaandco.com T: 0208 581 1502 (extension 803)

Marina Philips

Admitted on the Roll of Solicitors 2018 Duty Solicitor Qualification 2019 Higher Court Advocate 2020 After specialising in Criminal Law, Marina has worked tirelessly to defend her client's interests in the Magistrates, Youth and Crown Court. Marina regularly appears at police stations and Courts representing clients charged from the most basic offences to the most serious, such as multi-handed drug offences and sexual offences. Marina is a skilled advocate who appears before the law courts on a daily basis and has built up an excellent reputation and a very loyal client following. Marina prides herself in continuity of service as she runs the case from the outset and conducts trials herself. R v A - Youth charged with Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm - Client acquitted. R v N - Domestic Common Assault - Client acquitted. R v I - Youth charged with Robbery - Matter discontinued after discussions with CPS. R v S - Multiple Counts of Supply of Class A drugs where client is considered leading role - Judge persuaded to depart from sentencing guidelines. R v I - Youth charged with adults on Supply of Class A drugs - Matter discontinued after reviews made to CPS. R v I - Youth charged with second possession of bladed article - Judge persuaded to depart from sentencing guideline and avoid custody. E: marina.philips@vejaandco.com T: 0208 581 1502 (extension 808)

Dr Rakhi Rashmi, Barrister

Dr Rakhi Rashmi is a Barrister in England and Wales who holds a PhD in International Law and Economics. She is specialised in Immigration, Human Rights, detention, deportation and Family matters (Year of call:October 2013). She has advised several international organisations and been widely published internationally in newspapers and magazines. She has previously worked with CNRS GREDEG in France and different High Commissions such as Brazil, Peru and Cuba as adviser. Dr Rashmi has been trained at the World Health Organisation (South East Asia Office) and the United Nations University (Maastricht). She has lectured at ISIS Innovation Oxford (a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of Oxford). She was visiting fellow at Kings College Dept of Political Economy 2012-14. She has worked in four different countries and has spoken on biopharma innovation, technology transfer, human rights, and access to medicines in around 22 countries. Dr Rashmi is also Vice Chairperson of Commonwealth in England Barrister's Association (CEBA) since April 2019. She is the founder of the Abhigyan Foundation, which works on health and education of child labourers and construction laborer's families. E: rakhi@vejaandco.com T: 0208 581 1502 (extension 807)

Kevin Thomas

“Knowing that I had your support and encouragement helped so much………..” Kevin is a University of Wales graduate attaining an honors degree in Law. Whilst studying Kevin gained expertise and qualifications in Discrimination Law, Human Rights Law, Tort, Environmental Law, Maritime Law and Criminal Law. After leaving University, Kevin undertook a sixteen year career in Retail, which saw him rise through the ranks to senior Management, before a career in Law came calling once more. Kevin joined Veja and Co as a Personal Injury paralegal showing a verve for the area that brought exceptional results in claims, producing high value outcomes for his clients. Now as Practice and Criminal Department Manager Kevin has been able to show his aptitude for customer service skills, high learning capacity and keen eye for detail, but it is his patience and empathy with the client that sees him offer support at the most difficult of times. Throughout his time in the Criminal department as well as his managerial role where is seeks to develop business while encouraging new relationships and maintaining existing partnerships; Kevin has achieved notable successes with acquittals in motoring offence and sexual offences. Kevin has developed a keen interest and extensive knowledge of Criminal billing which he continues to develop and always seeks to improve.

Case of Note

R v O – (Criminal Case) Kevin assisted on a case gaining a technical discontinuance, where the Defendant is alleged to have failed to supply a specimen. R v N – (Criminal Case) Kevin took a leading role in a rape case gaining an acquittal after a five day Trial. The case was Nationally reported. R v S – (Criminal Case) Again taking a leading role in defence of a rape case, gaining a unanimous acquittal after less than an hour of jury deliberations. R v C - (Criminal Case) Kevin took a lead role in a case of Controlling and Coercive behaviour set for Trial at Crown Court. Through astute investigation and application of his legal knowledge an acquittal was secured prior to the Trial starting, when it was made clear that the Prosecution did not have sufficient evidence to proceed and abuse of process arguments were required to be drafted and submitted to Court. Costs Matter – Kevin assisted in a case referred to the Single Costs Judge where it was successfully argued that a Trial had started on the basis of Legal Argument without the Jury empanelled. H and Others V Groupama – (Personal Injury) Kevin was instructed as principal fee earner on a multi person Road Traffic Accident securing total damages in excess of fifty thousand pounds (£50, 000). E: k.thomas@vejaandco.com T: 0208 581 1502 (extension 802)