Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

European Law - London (Bar)

2
Band 2

What the Team is Known For

Blackstone Chambers offers impressive experience in a wide range of EU law issues, acting for multinational corporations, individual citizens and governmental and regulatory bodies, as well as the European Commission itself. Corporate clients hail from a diverse range of sectors including financial services, telecommunications and transport. The set has a strong track record of appearances in cases relating to the principles of competition law, freedom of information and free movement, among others. The barristers also represent those subject to EU sanctions in various appeals. Recent highlights include acting for ITV Plc in its challenge to the EU Commission state aid decision and in the Rwanda litigation in the Supreme Court, regarding allegations that the Secretary of State had breached EU law. One commentator notes the set has "strong expertise in European law and public law, as well as an outstanding ability to handle complex and sophisticated matters, and cut through to the net issues succinctly and clearly".

Derek Sutton and Adam Sloane are the senior clerks.

Strengths

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Notable Practitioners

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Brian Kennelly
1
Brian Kennelly
1
Band 1

Brian Kennelly KC handles a diverse array of cases before the CJEU. He acts on the appellant side of high-profile immigration or EU sanctions cases, and assists private companies, regulatory authorities or the European Commission itself in appeals of administrative decisions, often in relation to competition law or telecoms sector decisions.

He just eats and drinks competition and EU work, both domestically and in the CJEU.

Brian is an excellent advocate with clear strategic thinking about how to approach long-running and complex litigation.

Brian is one of the real leading silks in the space, he is really creative and willing to come up with creative arguments. He is really skilled on his feet, he has a manner that judges really like.

Brian has extensive knowledge of EU law and he's an excellent advocate as well. He has an excellent approach to advocacy, he has very good powers of persuasion in his structuring of arguments.

Brian is simply outstanding. He handles extremely complex and sophisticated matters and can analyse vast amounts of materials to cut through to the relevant issues in a clear and succinct manner.

Kieron Beal
1
Kieron Beal
1
Band 1

Kieron Beal KC is regularly instructed to handle contentious VAT, customs or excise cases, including those that are referred to the CJEU. He also advises on EC infringement proceedings and handles challenges to EU regulations governing trade with non-EU states.

His advocacy style is very considered, succinct and articulate; he's always so well prepared and has the ear of the court. I really like his style.

Kieron is my top choice for complex, high-value, cross-border work with a public or administrative law backdrop. He's very approachable, incredibly bright, a wonderful advocate and great with clients.

Thomas de la Mare
1
Thomas de la Mare
1
Band 1

Thomas de la Mare KC advises on pharmaceutical, telecoms and transportation sector judicial review proceedings that seek to challenge decisions made by UK public bodies on grounds of the failure to correctly apply EU law. He has experience in high-profile CJEU referral cases that question the legitimacy of the UK's programme of bulk interception and retention of communications data. He also stands out for his work in key cases that give an insight into the potential impact of Brexit on commercial contracts between the UK and member states.

He's excellent, very clever, inventive and determined. He's very detailed and a fearsome opponent.

Thomas is the leading advocate for EU law cases. He is across the details and a very effective advocate, he has carved out a really interesting niche practice in what remains of EU law within the UK.

He will always fight your corner, thinks outside the box to find a winning angle, and is a real street fighter. He has a depth of expertise as someone who has been around the block and seen it all.

Emily Neill
2
Emily Neill
2
Band 2

Emily Neill has built up a strong EU law-focused practice, which is grounded in her previous experience as a judicial assistant in Luxembourg and supported by her call to the Bar of the Republic of Ireland. She has assisted numerous companies and non-profits with matters concerning taxation, competition and various other market regulation issues.

She did an impressive job on a behemoth of a case, she is an extremely persuasive and effective advocate.

Emily is a rising star. She is great to work with, a real talent for the future.

Emily is a brilliant senior junior, she gets into the detail of the litigation and has the expertise and experience to provide high-quality strategic guidance.

Ravi Mehta
2
Ravi Mehta
2
Band 2

Ravi Mehta advises applicants and respondents in administrative appeals that seek to challenge UK tax, environmental, medicine licensing or data retention policies on EU law grounds. He has experience in cases sent to the CJEU for a determination on the proper application of EU law with respect to issues such as anti-competitive conduct.

He is fearsomely bright, thinks outside the box and is imaginative.

Ravi is fantastic, he's responsive, super bright and has acquired good background knowledge. I have nothing but the highest praise for him; he has always achieved fantastic results for us.

Ravi is super lovely and one of the nicest barristers to work with. His teamwork is his strength and he is highly intellectual; he is great.

Ravi provides strong and reliable leadership, and builds a great rapport with clients. He is very knowledgeable, not just in terms of the law but also the political nuances that affect cases.

James Segan
3
James Segan
3
Band 3

James Segan KC has a wide-ranging European law practice, focusing especially on regulatory context and retained EU law. Segan has noteworthy expertise within the EU law telecommunications, procurement and competition frameworks.

James is an absolute star, always my number one choice for FRAND litigation. He is exceptionally clever and knowledgeable in the area, but also extremely collaborative and an excellent advocate.

James has done loads and loads of EU work, particularly Brexit-related technical issues. He is excellent and well respected, very strong.

Jason Pobjoy
Jason Pobjoy
New Silks

Newly-appointed silk Jason Pobjoy advises private individuals and corporate clients in EU sanctions cases, including human rights-based appeals against their imposition. His broader European law practice includes involvement in major competition litigation.

Jason has very good judgement on how to characterise key legal issues and formulate convincing arguments. I'm really glad he's become a KC, I have no doubt he will really excel.

Jason is a big favourite of mine. He is good strategist, hard-working and clever. His judgement and client service skills are outstanding.

He is really unflappable when dealing with a lot of complex issues in multi-party and multi-claim litigation. He understands complex issues really easily and has a real eye for detail.

Ranked Barristers at
Blackstone Chambers

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Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

London (Bar)

European Law

Brian Kennelly KC
1
Brian Kennelly KC
1
Band 1
Kieron Beal KC
1
Kieron Beal KC
1
Band 1
Thomas de la Mare KC
1
Thomas de la Mare KC
1
Band 1
James Segan KC
3
James Segan KC
3
Band 3
Jason Pobjoy KC
Jason Pobjoy KC
New Silks

Juniors

London (Bar)

European Law

Emily Neill
2
Emily Neill
2
Band 2
Ravi Mehta
2
Ravi Mehta
2
Band 2