Before her decision to practice in criminal defence, Leila gained experience in international arbitrations, with experience of a wide range of arbitral institutions including the HKIAC, ICC, JCAA, LCIA, LMAA, UNCITRAL and SIAC (ad hoc).

During this time, she gained a detailed insight into several large-scale shipping, international trade, shareholder and joint venture arbitration disputes heard at the IDRC, London.

Leila co-authored academic textbook, ‘Mothering Justice’ – her book on how organisational innovations, in the criminal justice sector, could improve the lives of vulnerable women was endorsed by Lord David Rambotham and is presently used by major UK universities as part of their criminology undergraduate curriculum.