Department profile
Cloth Fair Chambers

Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals

High Net Worth Guide 2026 : London (Bar)


Cloth Fair Chambers

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals - London (Bar)

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For
Cloth Fair Chambers is an elite set with an excellent reputation in the market as one of the go-to chambers for high net worth individuals facing financial crime investigations.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Cloth Fair Chambers are the pre-eminent chambers for financial crime: their raison d'etre is to be the best operators in the market. Over 15-20 years, they have always looked to attract the very best in the criminal law market.

    Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Cloth Fair Chambers are small and specialist. They are highly regarded for financial crime.

    Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth
  • The chambers clerks go above and beyond to help and Cloth Fair Chambers have a very high standard of practitioners who specialise in financial crime matters.

    Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Senior StatespeopleNicholas Purnell
    Senior StatespeopleNicholas Purnell

    Nicholas Purnell

    Nicholas Purnell KC is a well-regarded figure at the financial crime Bar. Purnell regularly represents high net worth defendants in complex, often international investigations.
    • Nicholas has fantastic experience and authority.

      Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Star IndividualsJohn Kelsey-Fry
    Star IndividualsJohn Kelsey-Fry

    John Kelsey-Fry

    John Kelsey-Fry KC is widely revered for his expertise and experience in representing high net worth individuals in high-profile fraud and corruption matters. Kelsey-Fry's recent cases include some of the most significant complex fraud investigations of recent years.
    • John is one of the most highly regarded financial crime silks in the market and has been for some time.

      Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth
    • John has two things: his courtroom craft and his ability to analyse a case way before trial in terms of how it will look in and by managed by him in the courtroom. He is highly strategic.

      Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth
    • John is stellar, he has a charisma about him that comforts clients. He has been around and knows what he is talking about.

      Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 1Alison Pople
    Band 1Alison Pople

    Alison Pople

    Alison Pople KC frequently advises high net worth clients on complex financial crime investigations. Pople's work is often international in scope and encompasses bribery, fraud and corruption investigations, money laundering offences and related matters.

    • Alison is very personable and straight-talking. She is very bright and brings so much experience to matters. She is very pragmatic and will chart a strategy that is about choosing the right arguments at the right time. She will take the lead when she needs to but will stand back if it is in the best interests of a client.

      Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Alison has a brilliant client manner and conveys calm in the most fraught circumstances.

      Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Alison is absolutely worth her weight in gold and a pleasure to work with. Her advocacy skills were a joy to see.

      Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 1Ian Winter
    Band 1Ian Winter

    Ian Winter

    Ian Winter KC is an experienced and well-regarded figure at the financial crime Bar. Winter often represents high net worth defendants in major investigations.
    • Ian Winter is a real fighter and will take the most difficult cases.

      Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Frankly the best barrister I've come across. He does fantastic written work and is very diligent.

      Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Ian Winter fixes things. He is decisive in how to move forward and that is extremely helpful. When you can't see a way through, he finds it for you.

      Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 1Jonathan Barnard
    Band 1Jonathan Barnard

    Jonathan Barnard

    Jonathan Barnard KC frequently handles financial crime matters for high net worth individuals. Barnard's track record of appearing in significant business crime cases is notable, and he receives strong praise for his work on these matters.

    • Jonathan is incredibly thorough, knows the papers and issues inside and out. He has very good judgement in terms of tactics and strategy.

      Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Jonathan has great written advocacy and is very client-friendly. He is a seamless part of the counsel/solicitor team.

      Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 1Rachel Kapila
    Band 1Rachel Kapila

    Rachel Kapila

    Rachel Kapila regularly handles white-collar investigation matters involving the SFO, the DOJ, and the FCA. Kapila advises on fraud, bribery and corruption cases, and she regularly represents clients in high-profile matters.

    • Rachel Kapila is an excellent choice of barrister. She operates at the highest level for all matters, from bribery and corruption to fraud and extradition. She has a nice niche in electoral law and is involved in high-profile, complex work. She displays not only a brilliant technical knowledge of the law, but also mastery of the detail.

      Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Rachel is thorough, hardworking and on top of all the papers.

      Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 2Rhys Meggy
    Band 2Rhys Meggy

    Rhys Meggy

    Rhys Meggy has in-depth experience representing high net worth individuals in complex financial crime matters. Meggy has particular experience in advising banks and other financial institutions on international bribery, money laundering and tax compliance matters.

    • Rhys is a fantastic barrister and is all over the law. He is pragmatic and understands the real world, meaning that he does not get bogged down.

      Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Rhys's strategic thinking is absolutely brilliant and he works incredibly hard.

      Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 2Tom Allen
    Band 2Tom Allen

    Tom Allen

    Tom Allen KC regularly represents millionaire and billionaire clients in cross-border financial crime matters. Allen receives strong praise for his advocacy and his strategic awareness in these cases.
    • Tom is very good, very personable and user-friendly and a great lawyer.

      Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Tom is a go-to silk, he is extremely easy to work with and a real team player. He is great with clients and also a brilliant advocate.

      Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Tom is excellent, he has tactical nous and is user-friendly. He is a pleasure to work with and extremely bright.

      Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth
  • New SilksStuart Biggs
    New SilksStuart Biggs

    Stuart Biggs

    Stuart Biggs KC has significant experience handling financial investigations brought by the SFO, the FCA and HMRC. Biggs also assists corporate clients with internal investigation matters.

    • Stuart understands the sensitivity that some matters carry and is prepared to go the extra mile to care for his clients.

      Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Stuart Biggs is hard-working, bright and has a very good manner with clients. He deals with serious and complex fraud. He is very good advocate to work with and does a lot of the heavy lifting on cases. He's a great team player.

      Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Stuart is brilliant with clients, he's not a show off and doesn't grandstand. He gets on with the job and is an incredibly safe pair of hands.

      Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals respondentHigh Net Worth

Ranked Barristers at Cloth Fair Chambers (18)

London (Bar)

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