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One of the City’s top lawyers has been forced to quit after being exposed for inventing large parts of his glittering CV.

Dennis O’Riordan, 51, had enjoyed a high-powered legal career at a string of banks, barristers’ chambers and law firms by the time he was finally caught out.

He boasted of being made an Eldon Scholar by Oxford University after gaining first-class degrees and a doctorate there and of studying at Harvard University - all of which were lies.

He also invented studying at the prestigious public school Radley College, gaining a first-class degree from the University of East Anglia, a Master’s degree from Harvard University, and being a member of both the New York and Irish Bars.

Also known as Tom O’Riordan, the commercial litigator said on professional profiles he was a visiting lecturer at Oxford University.

His stellar academic background helped him become a partner at two City law firms, Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft and most recently Paul Hastings, which he joined in 2009.

The lawyer was only found out after apparently using his fabricated CV to apply for a job at an unnamed barristers’ chambers in November last year.

He was finally reported to the professional body for barristers, the Bar Standards Board, and has now been suspended from practice for three years.

In its judgment, the five-man panel ruled he was guilty of “conduct which was dishonest or otherwise discreditable to a barrister” dating back to March 2007.

Exposing his lies, the panel said: “He did not attend Oxford University as an undergraduate, was not awarded a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Civil Law, or a Doctorate of Philosophy or an Eldon Scholarship by that university.

“He was not awarded a Master’s degree by the Faculty of Law of Harvard University, he was not awarded a first class degree by the University of East Anglia.

“Further, he is not, and has never been, a member of either the New York or Irish Bars.”

Within 24 hours of Paul Hastings learning of his suspension, O’Riordan was forced to leave the firm and his profile removed from its website.

In a statement the firm said: “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 last Wednesday with immediate effect.”

O’Riordan was called to the Bar by Inner Temple in 1993, going on to become group counsel for Nomura, general counsel for Sumitomo Finance, and head of legal and tax for the Republic National Bank of New York.

In 2005, he joined barristers’ chambers 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square and moved to another chambers, Quadrant, before joining Cadwalader’s in August 2008 to launch its financial regulatory group in London.

In January 2009, he joined Paul Hastings and was a partner there until last year, when he became a special consultant at its London office.

Sources at the firm told the Standard O’Riordan was doing “excellent work” and his clients had been “very pleased”.

A source said: “He produced his Bar certificate and a degree from UEA - he was definitely qualified and had been doing sterling work at Cadwalader and had great client feedback.

“It’s just that he lied about his academic qualifications, and if you are a barrister, you can’t do that.”

Former colleagues are understood to have been in touch with the lawyer to “make sure he is OK”, but friends said he has now gone “underground” in light of the revelations and is believed to have travelled abroad.

Meanwhile fellow lawyers were today swapping stories on legal website RollOnFriday about his true background and told how many suspected his past may have been fabricated

One said the revelations explained his “Gordon Brown-style eruptions when challenged” adding: “Now at least we know why. Had plenty to hide.”

Another claimed: “Worked for him. Occasionally charming, sometimes offensive. Always full of his own genius. Clearly had much to hide.”

A third wrote: “What goes around comes around. Though its (sic) staggering it took so long for this to come out.”

Despite repeated attempts O’Riordan could not be reached for comment.

No-one from Cadwalader was available for comment.

Dennis O’Riordan’s false claims

Attended Radley College

Gained degree LLB (Hons) (First Class) University of East Anglia

Bachelor of Arts (First Class) Balliol College, Oxford University

Bachelor of Civil Laws (First Class) Balliol College, Oxford University

Doctor of Philosophy Balliol College, Oxford University

Eldon Scholar

Master’s degree, Faculty of Law Harvard University

Member of the New York Bar

Member of the Irish Bar

Benedict Moore-Bridger