Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Group Litigation - All Circuits

2
Band 2

What the Team is Known For

Blackstone Chambers has developed a strong reputation in group litigation, and recent years have seen members acting in some of the most significant cases in the field. The set stands out for its broad practice and versatile barristers who, as one source notes, are "completely unfazed by matters that throw up hugely complex challenges at every turn". Examples of cases its barristers have worked on recently include Upham v HSBC, also known as the 'Eclipse' litigation, AdTech Collective Action v Google, and the Dieselgate emissions litigation.

Mat Swallow is chambers director.

Strengths

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Notable Practitioners

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Shaheed Fatima
1
Shaheed Fatima
1
Band 1

Shaheed Fatima KC can boast extensive experience in group claims brought by foreign nationals in relation to alleged human rights abuses or environmental damage occurring as a result of natural resources exploitation. She is instructed by both claimants and defendants in group litigation.

Shaheed is hugely persuasive on her feet. She has good rapport with judges, is able to give fresh, challenging perspectives on issues, and is totally across all the evidence.

She is not the type of silk to read out a script; she knows every single detail of the case and even though you can't predict litigation, she never got caught out. She's very standout at her level.

Fantastic and a real star of the Bar. Incredibly intelligent but also really creative. She is robust, punchy, not afraid to take points others might shy away from.

Shaheed is really impressive counsel and a formidable advocate. She brings very clear strategic advice, in addition to the legal points.

Outstanding - as a lawyer, strategist and advocate.

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

Thomas de la Mare KC has a broad practice in group litigation. He is notable for his experience in large group claims concerning competition, consumer and environmental law.

Tom has a brain the size of a planet and he generates so many ideas. He is incredibly gifted.

Tom is always amazingly enthusiastic and very much an excellent advocate. He is someone you want on your side, prepared to take the argument, and to take on complex and innovative cases.

Tom is a good person to have by your side in a crisis. He's got just so much experience.

His advocacy is second to none. He is extremely persuasive and passionate about the work he does.

Brian Kennelly
2
Brian Kennelly
2
Band 2

Brian Kennelly KC has strong expertise covering major group actions spanning competition, commercial and consumer litigation.

Brian is a pleasure to worth with, one of the most sought-out people, a strong advocate and hard-working.

Brian handles the CAT and appellate courts incredibly deftly - a brilliant advocate who is totally cross the detail of his cases. I always feel better when Brian is at the helm of my cases.

Brian is just an absolutely magical advocate. He is absolutely brilliant to work with and an incredible team player. He has extreme command of his subject area and amazing judgement.

Brian is forensic, utterly persuasive on his feet and a joy to work with.

An all-round outstanding advocate.

Paul Luckhurst
2
Paul Luckhurst
2
Band 2

Paul Luckhurst is a very well-regarded junior with significant experience in important group litigation. He has impressive experience of matters involving international jurisdictions.

An excellent advocate with a very clear grasp of the facts and ability to distil complex issues into a digestible format for the tribunal.

Paul is smart, a team player, strategic and a pleasure to work with.

His advocacy is efficient and the tribunal appreciated his approach in taking reasonable points. I have been really impressed and he is also courteous to deal with.

An absolute genius and definitely someone you want in your corner.

A fantastic brain, destined for silk. He is always reliable and always calm, and very measured on his feet.

Javan Herberg
3
Javan Herberg
3
Band 3

Javan Herberg KC is highly experienced in the representation of banks and other institutions in financial services group litigation.

He is respected by judges and opponents alike. You want him on your side.

He is at the top of his game in terms of expertise with matters that have a regulatory angle. A good advocate and good with clients, he's very strategic and can see ways to cut through the case.

Javan is absolutely someone you want to use for tricky regulatory or public law points; he is second to none on the crossover between public law and finance.

Gayatri Sarathy
4
Gayatri Sarathy
4
Band 4

Gayatri Sarathy has a well-developed group litigation practice spanning multiple practice areas including privacy, employment and financial services. She tends to act for claimant groups including those securing a group litigation order.

She is incredibly clever, writes beautifully and is very easy to work with. She's a great addition to the team.

Gayatri bats above her call in terms of the value she adds to cases; she feeds into strategy in a way which goes beyond how junior she is.

Gayatri is an amazing barrister and great to work with. She is able to give her views and advise quickly and concisely without losing sight of the client experience.

She's excellent - extremely clever, drafting is very good, and she is well considered in her advice and strategically aware.

Gayatri is easily one of the most capable juniors at the competition Bar.

George Molyneaux
4
George Molyneaux
4
Band 4

George Molyneaux has a broad group litigation practice with particular expertise in mass tort claims brought against English-domiciled parent companies and overseas subsidiaries, where he brings to bear his knowledge of human rights and environmental matters.

George is an exceptional advocate. His legal analysis is top-notch and he is a pleasure to work with.

George is incredibly smart and is a future Supreme Court judge in the making. A really brilliant barrister on the fast track to greatness.

Jason Pobjoy
Jason Pobjoy
New Silks

Jason Pobjoy KC has highly regarded group litigation practice, which encompasses a wide range of areas including commercial law, data protection and equality. Pobjoy has noted experience in some of the most high-profile recent group actions in the UK.

He's very clever and very dynamic, a real expert in the area.

Jason is an excellent advocate which has led to his well-deserved elevation to silk.

Jason can distil really complex and dense issues down into straightforward and easy to action advice. He really is one of the stars of this area, and is a brilliant layer.

Jason is a very accessible barrister, hard-working, drafts extremely well and is pragmatic and commercial.

He is really unflappable when dealing with a lot of complex issues in multiparty and multiclaim pieces of litigation. Jason's written advocacy is excellent as well, he has a real eye for detail.

Ranked Barristers at
Blackstone Chambers

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Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

All Circuits

Group Litigation

Shaheed Fatima KC
1
Shaheed Fatima KC
1
Band 1
Thomas de la Mare KC
1
Thomas de la Mare KC
1
Band 1
Brian Kennelly KC
2
Brian Kennelly KC
2
Band 2
Javan Herberg KC
3
Javan Herberg KC
3
Band 3
Jason Pobjoy KC
Jason Pobjoy KC
New Silks

Juniors

All Circuits

Group Litigation

Paul Luckhurst
2
Paul Luckhurst
2
Band 2
Gayatri Sarathy
4
Gayatri Sarathy
4
Band 4
George Molyneaux
4
George Molyneaux
4
Band 4