Department profile
Blackstone Chambers

Group Litigation

UK Bar Guide 2026 : All Circuits


Blackstone Chambers

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Group Litigation - All Circuits

Band 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

Provided by Chambers

  • The clerks are good at coming up with names to fit jobs and are a cut above others.

    Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
  • Very responsive and helpful clerks who proactively go the extra mile.

    Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
  • The clerking team is extremely responsive and very easy to deal with.

    Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
  • Clerks are very responsive and available.

    Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
  • I am always impressed with the clerks. They are dynamic and use very modern technology.

    Group Litigation respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Shaheed Fatima
    Band 1Shaheed Fatima

    Shaheed Fatima

    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.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
    • 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.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
    • 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.

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

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
    • Outstanding - as a lawyer, strategist and advocate.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Thomas de la Mare
    Band 1Thomas de la Mare

    Thomas de la Mare

    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.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
    • 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.

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

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
    • His advocacy is second to none. He is extremely persuasive and passionate about the work he does.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Brian Kennelly
    Band 2Brian Kennelly

    Brian Kennelly

    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.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
    • 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.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
    • 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.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
    • Brian is forensic, utterly persuasive on his feet and a joy to work with.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
    • An all-round outstanding advocate.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Paul Luckhurst
    Band 2Paul Luckhurst

    Paul Luckhurst

    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.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
    • Paul is smart, a team player, strategic and a pleasure to work with.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
    • 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.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
    • An absolute genius and definitely someone you want in your corner.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
    • A fantastic brain, destined for silk. He is always reliable and always calm, and very measured on his feet.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Javan Herberg
    Band 3Javan Herberg

    Javan Herberg

    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.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
    • 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.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
    • 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.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Gayatri Sarathy
    Band 4Gayatri Sarathy

    Gayatri Sarathy

    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.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
    • 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.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
    • 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.

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

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
    • Gayatri is easily one of the most capable juniors at the competition Bar.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4George Molyneaux
    Band 4George Molyneaux

    George Molyneaux

    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.

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

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
  • New SilksJason Pobjoy
    New SilksJason Pobjoy

    Jason Pobjoy

    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.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
    • Jason is an excellent advocate which has led to his well-deserved elevation to silk.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
    • 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.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
    • Jason is a very accessible barrister, hard-working, drafts extremely well and is pragmatic and commercial.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar
    • 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.

      Group Litigation respondentUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at Blackstone Chambers (8)

All Circuits

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