Dennis O'Riordan, a 51-year-old top City lawyer who lied about his Harvard and Oxford degrees has been suspended as a special consultant at the international law firm, Paul Hastings, after his deceptions were exposed.
Until his lies were caught; O'Riordan enjoyed a successful five-year legal career at several banks, barristers' chambers and law firms. According to Telegraph, his fabricated academic background helped him become a partner at two City law firms, Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft and Paul Hastings, which he joined in 2009.
O'Riordan was even listed in the Bar Directory with a series of fallacious titles. His description read, 'Dr Dennis Thomas Delcaron O'Riordan LLB, Hons, BCL D Phil, Oxon, MA.'
In his detailed, creative CV, O'Riordan claimed that he was made an Eldon Scholar by Oxford University, had a first class degree from Oxford and a doctorate in philosophy, completed masters degree from Harvard University, was a member of both the New York and Irish Bars, went to the prestigious Radley College private school and had a first class degree from the University of East Anglia
Plus, the commercial litigator, otherwise known as Tom O'Riordan, stated to be once a visiting lecturer at Oxford University on professional profiles.
Actually, O'Riordan did receive his education from East Anglia but it is not sure whether he secured top grades, Daily Mail reports.
His invented academic records came out in the public eye while applying for a job at a barristers' chambers in November last year, Standard reports.
O'Riordan's false claims were reported to the Bar Standards Board, the professional body for barristers, who suspended him from practice for three years. After investigation into the claims, the board found O'Riordan guilty of 'conduct which was dishonest or otherwise discreditable to a barrister' dating back to March 2007, the Daily Mail reports.
"He did not attend Oxford University as an undergraduate and was not awarded a BA or BCL or a D Phil or an Eldon Scholarship by that university. He was not awarded a Master's degree by the Faculty of Law of Harvard University. 'Further, he is not, and has never been, a member of either the New York or Irish Bars," the board announced.
Immediately after learning about the suspension, O'Riordan was forced to quit his job at Paul Hastings and his profile was deleted from its website, reports Standard.
"We learned that a consultant to the London office, Tom O'Riordan, has, in the past, exaggerated his academic qualifications. Mr O'Riordan is a barrister and his professional body, the Bar Standards Board, has successfully brought disciplinary proceedings against him. Mr O'Riordan left the firm with immediate effect," a Paul Hastings spokesperson said.
