With ‘genuine strength in depth’, 3 Verulam Buildings is ‘one of the pre-eminent financial services regulation sets’; highly active across both the contentious side, including FCA investigations, market misconduct and judicial review, as well as non-contentious regulatory matters. 2021 silk Saima Hanif KC has a stellar reputation for acting against financial regulators, while 2022 silk Farhaz Khan KC continues to undertake high-profile work in the area of non-financial misconduct proceedings and investigations. Adam Temple is known for representing regulators and did so in FCA v Steel, the FCA has sought to use s.382 of FSMA to obtain restitution orders against shareholders of regulated firms.
Financial services regulation in
London Bar
3 Verulam Buildings
Les références
‘The clerks are very efficient and straightforward to work with. I have been impressed by the thoughtful and considered approach of Richard Ansell.’
‘The clerks are 3VB are first rate. Stuart Pullum and Steve Penson are senior clerks leading the room. Clients adore them and they are absolute superstars.’
‘The clerks at 3VB are almost without exception professional and accommodating. Steve Penson and Stuart Pullum lead by example and when problems arise they are faced head on.’
Principaux dossiers
Blackstone Chambers
Blackstone Chambers is a ‘go-to set for financial regulatory work’ and offers expertise across the spectrum of related work including FCA and PRA regulatory investigations, judicial reviews of regulatory action, and commercial and chancery claims involving breaches of the Financial Services and Markets Act. In one of the highest profile market abuse cases pursued by the FCA in recent years, Javan Herberg KC and Paul Luckhurst acted for Sir Christopher Gent in defending a claim of market abuse by disclosure of information while chair of the medical device maker ConvaTec. Another highly publicised case has seen 2022 silk Hanif Mussa KC represent UKAR and NRAM, the successors to Northern Rock, in the “mortgage prisoners” litigation; a complex case brought by thousands of claimants who allege they are trapped on more expensive mortgages due to affordability requirements, despite being up-to-date with mortgage payments.
Les références
‘The clerks are polite and responsive. Billy Brian in particular has been a joy to work with.’
‘All the clerks are very good but my go to person is Gary Oliver, with Lewis Walker in close second.’
‘Leading set for contentious financial services work.’
Principaux dossiers
Fountain Court Chambers
Fountain Court Chambers is ‘one of the top, if not the top, financial services set’, drawing upon the exceptional broader expertise in the banking and regulatory practices to act for regulators, regulated entities and high-net-worth individuals. In HSBC v Stanford International Bank, Patricia Robertson KC secured a dismissal in the Supreme Court for HSBC for all but £2.4 million of a £118.5m fine for liability stemming the bank’s operation of accounts for Stanford International Bank, a Ponzi scheme for which sometime cricket sponsor Allen Stanford was stripped of his knighthood by the Antiguan government and sentenced to over a century in prison by the US courts. Richard Coleman KC has been acting for the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fair Business Banking, which seeks to challenge the FCA by judicial review for their failure to compensate SMEs who were mis-sold interest rate hedging products.
Les références
‘Outstanding. Alex Taylor runs an excellent clerking service. The team structure he has created and the regular meetings which all teams have mean that his two excellent deputies (Sian Huckett and Katie Szewczyk) are superb and all team leaders and their assistants follow an excellent example. The clerking team is one of the most diverse at the Bar.’
‘Always an excellent service from the clerks.’
‘Fountain Court is one of the top, if not the top, financial services set.’
Principaux dossiers
Gough Square Chambers
Gough Square Chambers consistently act for many of the UK’s major banks and government bodies across the gamut of contentious and non-contentious regulatory areas, with the chambers having a particular strength in the regulation of retail products. Jonathan Kirk KC acted for Diamond Resorts and Club La Costa in consumer credit litigation concerning the mis-selling of timeshare as an investment, with the High Court dismissing claims for judicial review in May 2023. Stephen Neville continues to be an authority on compliance issues, recently advising Masthaven Bank on its withdrawal from the UK mortgage market and the sale of its almost £500m portfolio. Simon Popplewell brings an abundance of experience appearing before the FCA’s Regulatory Decisions Committee and regularly advises on the FCA perimeter and the boundaries in which parliament limits the regulator to act.
Les références
‘The clerks are fantastic and provide a brilliant client focused service, often working to tight deadlines, and ably handle competing demands and deadlines. We have dealt with Richard Bryant, Bob Weekes and Jack Bradshaw.’
‘Bob Weekes is superb and a pleasure to deal with – he has a great knowledge of counsel’s expertise.’
‘We always receive great service from Gough Square.’
Henderson Chambers
Henderson Chambers is ‘excellent for financial services litigation and regulatory work’, with members being increasingly called upon to advise on matters governed by the FSMA and FCA regulatory regime related to consumer credit legislation and unfair business-to-consumer practices. In Intrum Finance v Baldwin, Toby Riley-Smith KC was instructed by the financier to appear in its appeal concerning if a debt-purchase company requires authorisation from the FCA to engage a third-party debt-recovery agent. Thomas Samuels is advising Google on the financial services aspects of a dispute regarding the right of insolvency practitioners to place search advertisements. Julia Smith continues to advise banks and other businesses on issues arising from the FSMA and FCA notification requirements.
Les références
‘Excellent for Financial Services Litigation and Regulatory work.’
‘Henderson Chambers must be one of – if not the – leading set of consumer finance regulatory barristers.’
‘Henderson appears to have evolved with the times and expanded its consumer finance expertise to cover general banking and financial technology expertise.’
Outer Temple Chambers
Outer Temple Chambers ‘have always had a very strong presence in the financial services regulation space’ and are active across all aspects: from early advice related to perimeter guidance breaches; through to advising on investigations brought by the FCA’s enforcement division, and through to representation before the Regulatory Decisions Committee and the Upper Tribunal. Michael Uberoi has acted for the defendant in FCA v Reynolds, an alleged pensions misselling case heard by the Regulatory Decisions Committee in January 2023. Michael Bowes KC, as was, is now a circuit judge. Oliver Powell was instructed under direct access in proceedings before Lloyd’s Enforcement Board, advising and negotiating a settlement in response to a discreditable conduct charge.
Les références
‘Clerks are very accommodating with urgent requests, training and generally building up a relationship with chambers not just the individual.’
‘Excellent clerks – definitely some of the best in the market. Sam Carter and Colin Bunyan are amazing to deal with. Super responsive, transparent and great for a chat!’
‘The clerks are one of Outer Temple’s greatest assets. A special shout out to Colin Bunyan and Nick Levett who will always do their utmost to assist me, even when it’s a last minute instruction for the most difficult of clients.’
Principaux dossiers
3 Verulam Buildings
Les références
‘The clerks are very efficient and straightforward to work with. I have been impressed by the thoughtful and considered approach of Richard Ansell.’
‘The clerks are 3VB are first rate. Stuart Pullum and Steve Penson are senior clerks leading the room. Clients adore them and they are absolute superstars.’
‘The clerks at 3VB are almost without exception professional and accommodating. Steve Penson and Stuart Pullum lead by example and when problems arise they are faced head on.’
Principaux dossiers
Blackstone Chambers
Blackstone Chambers is a ‘go-to set for financial regulatory work’ and offers expertise across the spectrum of related work including FCA and PRA regulatory investigations, judicial reviews of regulatory action, and commercial and chancery claims involving breaches of the Financial Services and Markets Act. In one of the highest profile market abuse cases pursued by the FCA in recent years, Javan Herberg KC and Paul Luckhurst acted for Sir Christopher Gent in defending a claim of market abuse by disclosure of information while chair of the medical device maker ConvaTec. Another highly publicised case has seen 2022 silk Hanif Mussa KC represent UKAR and NRAM, the successors to Northern Rock, in the “mortgage prisoners” litigation; a complex case brought by thousands of claimants who allege they are trapped on more expensive mortgages due to affordability requirements, despite being up-to-date with mortgage payments.
Les références
‘The clerks are polite and responsive. Billy Brian in particular has been a joy to work with.’
‘All the clerks are very good but my go to person is Gary Oliver, with Lewis Walker in close second.’
‘Leading set for contentious financial services work.’
Principaux dossiers
Fountain Court Chambers
Fountain Court Chambers is ‘one of the top, if not the top, financial services set’, drawing upon the exceptional broader expertise in the banking and regulatory practices to act for regulators, regulated entities and high-net-worth individuals. In HSBC v Stanford International Bank, Patricia Robertson KC secured a dismissal in the Supreme Court for HSBC for all but £2.4 million of a £118.5m fine for liability stemming the bank’s operation of accounts for Stanford International Bank, a Ponzi scheme for which sometime cricket sponsor Allen Stanford was stripped of his knighthood by the Antiguan government and sentenced to over a century in prison by the US courts. Richard Coleman KC has been acting for the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fair Business Banking, which seeks to challenge the FCA by judicial review for their failure to compensate SMEs who were mis-sold interest rate hedging products.
Les références
‘Outstanding. Alex Taylor runs an excellent clerking service. The team structure he has created and the regular meetings which all teams have mean that his two excellent deputies (Sian Huckett and Katie Szewczyk) are superb and all team leaders and their assistants follow an excellent example. The clerking team is one of the most diverse at the Bar.’
‘Always an excellent service from the clerks.’
‘Fountain Court is one of the top, if not the top, financial services set.’
Principaux dossiers
Gough Square Chambers
Gough Square Chambers consistently act for many of the UK’s major banks and government bodies across the gamut of contentious and non-contentious regulatory areas, with the chambers having a particular strength in the regulation of retail products. Jonathan Kirk KC acted for Diamond Resorts and Club La Costa in consumer credit litigation concerning the mis-selling of timeshare as an investment, with the High Court dismissing claims for judicial review in May 2023. Stephen Neville continues to be an authority on compliance issues, recently advising Masthaven Bank on its withdrawal from the UK mortgage market and the sale of its almost £500m portfolio. Simon Popplewell brings an abundance of experience appearing before the FCA’s Regulatory Decisions Committee and regularly advises on the FCA perimeter and the boundaries in which parliament limits the regulator to act.
Les références
‘The clerks are fantastic and provide a brilliant client focused service, often working to tight deadlines, and ably handle competing demands and deadlines. We have dealt with Richard Bryant, Bob Weekes and Jack Bradshaw.’
‘Bob Weekes is superb and a pleasure to deal with – he has a great knowledge of counsel’s expertise.’
‘We always receive great service from Gough Square.’
Henderson Chambers
Henderson Chambers is ‘excellent for financial services litigation and regulatory work’, with members being increasingly called upon to advise on matters governed by the FSMA and FCA regulatory regime related to consumer credit legislation and unfair business-to-consumer practices. In Intrum Finance v Baldwin, Toby Riley-Smith KC was instructed by the financier to appear in its appeal concerning if a debt-purchase company requires authorisation from the FCA to engage a third-party debt-recovery agent. Thomas Samuels is advising Google on the financial services aspects of a dispute regarding the right of insolvency practitioners to place search advertisements. Julia Smith continues to advise banks and other businesses on issues arising from the FSMA and FCA notification requirements.
Les références
‘Excellent for Financial Services Litigation and Regulatory work.’
‘Henderson Chambers must be one of – if not the – leading set of consumer finance regulatory barristers.’
‘Henderson appears to have evolved with the times and expanded its consumer finance expertise to cover general banking and financial technology expertise.’
Outer Temple Chambers
Outer Temple Chambers ‘have always had a very strong presence in the financial services regulation space’ and are active across all aspects: from early advice related to perimeter guidance breaches; through to advising on investigations brought by the FCA’s enforcement division, and through to representation before the Regulatory Decisions Committee and the Upper Tribunal. Michael Uberoi has acted for the defendant in FCA v Reynolds, an alleged pensions misselling case heard by the Regulatory Decisions Committee in January 2023. Michael Bowes KC, as was, is now a circuit judge. Oliver Powell was instructed under direct access in proceedings before Lloyd’s Enforcement Board, advising and negotiating a settlement in response to a discreditable conduct charge.
Les références
‘Clerks are very accommodating with urgent requests, training and generally building up a relationship with chambers not just the individual.’
‘Excellent clerks – definitely some of the best in the market. Sam Carter and Colin Bunyan are amazing to deal with. Super responsive, transparent and great for a chat!’
‘The clerks are one of Outer Temple’s greatest assets. A special shout out to Colin Bunyan and Nick Levett who will always do their utmost to assist me, even when it’s a last minute instruction for the most difficult of clients.’