Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Banking & Finance - London (Bar)

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Fountain Court Chambers is a market-leading set with a huge offering of expert barristers covering diverse banking matters. The set "exemplifies excellence, combining top-tier legal expertise with outstanding organisation and efficiency," and members regularly act for global financial institutions, including investment and retail banks, in wide-ranging disputes. Praised for being "fantastic at problem solving and thinking on their feet," complex claims pertaining to both civil and criminal fraud, bribery and money laundering are frequently handled with great proficiency by the Fountain Court barristers. Members of the set continue to act in SKAT litigation, as well as in Palladian Partners & others v Argentina.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Bankim Thanki
Bankim Thanki
Star Individuals

Bankim Thanki KC is an extraordinarily versatile silk with a superb reputation in an array of practice areas, including civil fraud, financial services, offshore and international arbitration. He has acted for a variety of clients in the realm of banking disputes, including retail, investment and central banks, often where there is an overlap between contentious regulatory and banking issues. He is additionally noted for his work with central banks in Germany, Namibia and Trinidad & Tobago.

He is the dream silk - he delivers top quality work, has a friendly calm assurance, is respected so greatly by judges and his style is excellent.

He is top of the tree in terms of banking work.

Bankim is a bit of a silent assassin - you know he will pull something out of the bag in oral submissions and he does it in a very polished way.

David Railton
Star Individuals

David Railton KC is a vastly experienced advocate with a practice spanning the full range of disputes in banking and finance. His practice covers complex financial products, note issue construction and operation, swaps and derivatives disputes, and cases concerning allegations of LIBOR manipulation. He is also a highly adept practitioner in insurance and general commercial cases. He is further recognised for his expertise in offshore jurisdictions, including the BVI, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, where he handles highly complex financial cases and a number of group litigation matters.

David is my favourite barrister at the bar in a defence capacity - he has great judgement and you learn from working with him.

He has an exceptional eye for detail and gives sound and realistic advice. David is the KC that everyone wants on their team.

Richard Handyside
Star Individuals

Richard Handyside KC is renowned as a leading player in the banking sphere, having forged an impressive reputation for handling of market-leading cases on behalf of a variety of investment banks and financial institutions. He is particularly noted for his market-leading expertise in issues facing banks arising from the LIBOR manipulation scandal. He has knowledge of disputes relating to the sale of structured notes and film investment schemes. As well as handling the most significant domestic cases, he is also noted for his considerable experience in conducting multi-jurisdictional disputes.

Richard is fantastic, very clear in his advice and has great gravitas in court.

He is an intelligent and skilled advocate who is clear and approachable for clients.

Richard is a very impressive advocate - he is quite understated so has excellent credibility before the court.

Adam Sher
1
Adam Sher
1
Band 1

Adam Sher is a well-regarded barrister capable in LIBOR-related litigation and general financial disputes, many of which have offshore elements. He acts for an array of major national and multinational retail and investment banks.

He has a razor sharp intellect, always provides clear and concise comments, helps to chart a way forward in difficult waters and is also a pleasure to work with.

Adam is exceptionally clever, very hard-working and a great team player.

Adam is always willing to think beyond the immediate question and never fails to be ahead of everyone else in the room on the most intricate of details.

Nico Leslie
1
Nico Leslie
1
Band 1

Nico Leslie is a talented junior with a reputation for handling disputes relating to interest rate swaps and alleged market manipulation on behalf of leading financial institutions. In recent years he has made great use of his fluency in Italian to handle cases for international investment banks that have had disputes with Italian authorities. He is highly experienced in conducting cases in multiple jurisdictions, as evidenced by his appearance in cases in Bermuda and the BVI.

Nico is able to grapple with complex issues quickly and efficiently and is able to distil advice to clients in a way that is clear and concise.

He has a magical combination of incisive intellect, a keen eye for commerciality and a very high EQ.

Nico is fiendishly clever, always composed, very responsive and one of the standout juniors of his generation.

Patrick Goodall
1
Patrick Goodall
1
Band 1

Patrick Goodall KC is a renowned silk and an advocate of choice for complex financial disputes turning on intricate questions of technical law, and is particularly proficient at handling reference rate claims and swaps mis-selling cases. He acts both for and against banks, and has experience in co-ordinating cases with offshore elements.

He provides top quality insights and arguments.

He is devastatingly incisive on his feet, has an unimpeachable grasp of the detail and is a master strategist to boot.

Patrick is unbelievably logical, has a great read of the Court, has excellent client handling skills, is a ferocious cross-examiner and a persuasive advocate.

Richard Lissack
1
Richard Lissack
1
Band 1

Richard Lissack KC is a highly regarded practitioner with a wealth of sector experience. His esteemed banking practice is focused on complex and substantial matters, regularly involving cross-border elements. He has specialist knowledge of disputes involving financial crime, fraud, bribery, money laundering and sanctions, and has handled a number of matters relating to SFO investigations. Lissack has also been called to numerous international Bars, including New York, the DIFC and the Eastern Caribbean.

Tactically, Richard is very astute and his oral submissions are a delight.

He is extremely bright, a lovely person to work with and excellent on his feet.

I have never seen anybody with better client care.

2
Andrew Mitchell
2
Band 2

Andrew Mitchell KC has established himself as a silk of choice for complex finance litigation, and has an especially strong standing in interest rate swaps disputes. He is also a noted practitioner in commercial dispute resolution and insurance cases. Mitchell is frequently sought out to defend banks against allegations of fraud, and has also appeared for them in PPI mis-selling claims cases. He further advises clients on complex securitisation and underwriting issues.

He has a voracious appetite for complex cases and performed superbly at trial.

He is a subtle advocate with a playful cross-examination style which is devastatingly effective.

Andrew is a clear and persuasive advocate and is good at balancing clients' commercial objectives with the legal options.

2
David Murray
2
Band 2

David Murray enjoys an excellent reputation as a versatile junior experienced in appearing before the English courts and the DIFC on behalf of a range of banking clients. He is particularly adept at handling cases relating to the mis-selling of financial products. His work sees him advising on a broad range of disputes in commercial, investment and retail banking.

David is a pleasure to deal with and works very hard to bring the right result for the client.

He is extremely bright, produces excellent paperwork and is outstandingly good.

2
Henry King
2
Band 2

Henry King KC is a highly capable advocate whose practice in banking and financial regulatory disputes is informed, in part, by his accountancy qualification. He is well versed in handling claims on behalf of central and investment banks, and is very experienced in derivatives cases. King regularly handles both national and international financial disputes involving a range of high-profile clients.

Henry is exceptionally forensic, hardworking and a very strong advocate.

He is thorough, detail-oriented and meticulous in his approach.

Henry is brilliant; he is incredibly hard-working, is able to master the details of very complex claims and is a calm and persuasive advocate.

Natasha Bennett
2
Natasha Bennett
2
Band 2

Natasha Bennett is a strong-performing junior who is adept in acting for major national and multinational banks. Her wide-ranging practice covers professional negligence and financial services disputes as well as general commercial litigation and arbitration. She regularly acts in complex cases and is accomplished at acting both as part of a team and as sole counsel. She is also experienced in handling matters relating to alleged manipulation of benchmark interest rates.

Natasha is an excellent advocate. Her skills, professionalism and hard work made a substantial difference in our case.

She offers extremely persuasive written and oral advocacy.

Nik Yeo
2
Nik Yeo
2
Band 2

Nik Yeo is a notable senior junior who enjoys a solid standing among instructing solicitors and his peers for his practice in structured finance litigation matters. He has additional noted proficiency in handling professional negligence and commercial international arbitration proceedings. Yeo is regularly involved in very sizeable and complex disputes arising out of the credit crunch. He impresses with his grasp of highly elaborate structured products such as CPDOs, and is noted for his handling of cases with international law elements. He also has significant expertise in cryptocurrency-related financial litigation.

Nik has a very strong grasp of the law and provides sophisticated advice. His vision and advocacy have been effective in securing positive outcomes.

2
Patricia Robertson
2
Band 2

Patricia Robertson KC is an experienced and versatile practitioner with a strong track record of representing clients in litigation in the banking sector, especially in cases addressing allegations of regulatory breaches. In addition to her expertise in financial disputes, she is also a noted advocate with respect to professional discipline and negligence matters. She acts with regularity in multi-party disputes relating to failed investment schemes, and is known for her knowledge of interest rate swaps.

She is really impressive, very commanding of her brief and very personable.

2
Richard Coleman
2
Band 2

Richard Coleman KC is a capable advocate who acts for both claimants and defendants, especially in cases concerning mis-selling disputes. He is experienced in acting for major national banks as well as prominent financial bodies, including the FCA.

He has a really thorough and thoughtful way to go about things.

Richard is exceptional in his field. His professionalism and dedication create an environment where complex legal matters are handled with precision and commercial insight.

2
Rosalind Phelps
2
Band 2

Rosalind Phelps KC is an accomplished silk who is noted for her abilities across a range of banking and finance matters, and has particular expertise in bond and loan disputes, LIBOR and swap mis-selling cases. She handles significant disputes for clients including both high street and investment banks.

Rosalind is very good on her feet and not afraid to roll her sleeves up on something complicated.

She is brilliant - one of the most user-friendly barristers I have ever worked with.

She is brilliant, extremely hands-on, all over the details and really punchy in court as well.

2
Tamara Oppenheimer
2
Band 2

Tamara Oppenheimer KC is a highly adept silk acting in a wide variety of prominent banking cases for major clients. She handles matters involving fraud allegations and mis-selling disputes, and is also experienced in professional negligence matters. She has further experience of representing the government.

Tamara is brilliant in her legal strategy advice and very assured in arguing complex legal points.

Tamara is fabulous in her work product but also in her approachability, making her a joy to work with.

Tamara is a dream to work with. She is on top of every detail, tests every issue and gives sound and commercial advice.

2
Timothy Howe
2
Band 2

Timothy Howe KC is an exceptionally capable advocate with an enormous amount of experience of handling banking litigation and arbitration. Within banking and finance, he is especially good at handling cases stemming from allegations of fraud concerning swaps and derivatives. He represents leading global investment banks in high-value matters relating to complex derivatives and other transactions.

Timothy is very hands-on, user-friendly and clever.

He is ferocious and committed, very in the details and very good on technical points of law.

3
Adam Zellick
3
Band 3

Adam Zellick KC is a highly adept silk who co-ordinates a broad array of banking cases, including those involving derivatives, swaps and LIBOR manipulations. He is frequently sought out to handle both substantial, highly publicised litigation and cases that are reputationally sensitive.

He is a brilliant lawyer and advocate who provides unrivalled customer service.

Adam is an excellent barrister willing to get into the thorny details and provide clear and practical advice to the client.

Alexandra Whelan
3
Alexandra Whelan
3
Band 3

Alexandra Whelan is a respected barrister with a highly regarded banking practice. She leverages her prior experience as a solicitor to assist banks in a range of courts. She is regularly sought to act in high-profile commercial disputes involving international elements, as well as having experience of class action matters.

Alexandra is a great up-and-coming junior with a good breadth of experience.

She is a very capable and conscientious banking junior.

3
Ben Valentin
3
Band 3

Ben Valentin KC has undoubted expertise in banking cases as part of a wide-ranging international commercial arbitration and commercial dispute resolution practice, and has appeared in a number of leading cases for major financial clients on both the claimant and defendant sides. He is noted for his significant experience of acting in complex offshore litigation in the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands in particular.

Ben has real presence in court. He holds the room and is a first-class cross-examiner.

Craig Ulyatt
3
Craig Ulyatt
3
Band 3

Craig Ulyatt is an accomplished junior who appears both led and unled in a variety of banking and financial services cases. He regularly acts in matters involving financial mis-selling, particularly concerning interest rate swaps.

Craig is superb to work with - robust, very bright and very user-friendly.

Craig is really strong in his attention to detail and his knowledge of banking litigation and he provides excellent advice.

He is a really good advocate, forceful when he needs it and more gentle when he doesn't.

Daniel Edmonds
3
Daniel Edmonds
3
Band 3

Daniel Edmonds is an accomplished junior who is well versed in appearing in courts at all levels. He handles an array of financial matters, including those involving substantial damages claims, debt mis-selling allegations and repayment disputes.

He is a pleasure to work with, a real team player and easy to get along with.

Daniel is very bright and produces great work product.

Ian Bergson
3
Ian Bergson
3
Band 3

Ian Bergson has been involved in a range of high-value and high-profile banking and financial services cases. His expertise includes mis-selling cases and banking-related insolvency disputes.

He is a brilliant and bright young barrister who is a pleasure to deal with.

Ian is a fantastic junior. He is responsive, his work is of the highest quality and his writing is clear and concise.

James Cutress
3
James Cutress
3
Band 3

James Cutress KC is a well-regarded silk experienced in handling a broad range of complex and high-value banking and financial matters, as well as wider insurance and general commercial disputes. His banking cases include many cross-border disputes and arbitrations. He has also acted in a series of high-profile and well-documented interest rate swap mis-selling cases.

James grasps really difficult points with ease and is great at finding solutions.

He has got a huge brain and he is an incredibly able lawyer.

He is very analytical and his written advocacy is absolutely superb.

3
Jeffrey Chapman
3
Band 3

Jeffrey Chapman KC is a highly capable and respected advocate whose practice in banking and finance commonly overlaps with his wider expertise in commercial fraud matters. He has noted ability in international disputes, financial regulatory matters and arbitration proceedings, and regularly handles matters for national and international banks.

He is excellent; he is really good at giving an instinct on something and he is always so happy to chat through a problem.

I find him incredibly efficient, easy to work with and he has our case mastered in terms of all its nuances.

John Taylor
3
John Taylor
3
Band 3

John Taylor KC has a strong track record of representing banks both in the English courts and overseas. He has particular experience in cases addressing LIBOR manipulation, the operation of standard terms and the mis-selling of interest rate swaps. His banking practice incorporates disputes in overseas jurisdictions, and he has particular experience of acting in the DIFC.

John helped produce great results for our client and they were very pleased.

3
Laura John
3
Band 3

Laura John KC is a highly adept and experienced practitioner with a renowned practice in financial litigation and arbitration. She is involved in significant, market-leading matters concerning LIBOR and EURIBOR manipulations and acts for a vast array of investment and retail banks.

Laura is a devastating cross-examiner.

She is great on her feet and offers commanding, clear and forceful advocacy.

She is a very persuasive advocate and she is indefatigable.

Laurie Brock
3
Laurie Brock
3
Band 3

Laurie Brock has acted in some of the more substantial, high-value cases of recent times. He is particularly skilled in cases involving allegations of derivatives mis-selling and LIBOR manipulation.

Laurie is brilliant; he can analyse extremely complicated legal issues in a way which marries strategic commercial advice with the appropriate level of detail.

He is bright, focused, always across the detail and will be a star for years to come.

He has an incredible legal and analytical mind and an impressive ability to turn around a complex but clear work product.

3
Rebecca Loveridge
3
Band 3

Rebecca Loveridge acts for both national and international clients in a range of financial matters. She acts in matters concerning breach of fiduciary duty, the enforcement of guarantees and the mis-selling of financial products.

Rebecca has excellent judgement and conviction in her advice, which is welcomed by clients.

She is diligent, responsive and meticulous.

Rebecca is a strong commercial barrister with high standards of attention to detail and commercial awareness.

4
Alexander Milner
4
Band 4

Alexander Milner KC is an accomplished barrister who is equally adept at acting both for and against banks, and is experienced in cases connected with interest rate hedging products. Milner speaks fluent Russian, and as a result has experience in working on cases from the CIS region. Domestically, he acts for and against banks in litigation covering a variety of banking and finance issues. Mis-selling claims and LIBOR misrepresentation cases are a particular specialism.

Alex is one of the greatest legal minds of his generation.

He is an excellent lawyer and a pleasure to work with.

He thinks outside the box, is very hard working and thorough and anticipates any potential issues well.

4
Christopher Langley
4
Band 4

Christopher Langley has an impressive banking practice, which has seen him appear in Supreme Court cases. He is frequently instructed by high-profile banking institutions in complex finance disputes, often involving multiple jurisdictions. Langley has additional knowledge of growing finance areas, such as cryptocurrency.

Chris is very user-friendly, excellent to work with and always provides useful and commercially-minded advice.

He has the ability to cut to the heart of what is important and delivers advice in a clear and concise manner.

He is really good - quick on the uptake, sees the whole picture and is good with clients.

Giles Wheeler
4
Giles Wheeler
4
Band 4

Giles Wheeler KC is a well-regarded practitioner who garners praise for his adept representation in a range of banking disputes, including those involving LIBOR misrepresentations and FCA challenges. He is especially well versed in handling derivatives litigation, and acts both for and against banks.

Giles is a very user friendly silk and a fantastic advocate. He is very sharp and can cover highly complex matters very quickly.

He has a measured, calm and authoritative manner.

Giles is an excellent silk. He is all over the detail, tenacious and always extremely well-prepared.

4
James Duffy
4
Band 4

James Duffy KC handles complex matters for a wide variety of major national investment banks. He has expertise in cases concerning LIBOR manipulation, swaps mis-selling and fraud disputes. Duffy has appeared in a number of the most significant cases of recent years in the banking and finance sector, and is noted for his handling of cases that are both high-profile and reputationally sensitive.

James is extremely responsive, thoughtful, practical and hands-on.

James is an accomplished advocate. He is quick on his feet and able to deal with the unexpected.

James is brilliant. He is very quick, very sensible, extremely clever and in court he is very effective, crisp and persuasive.

Joseph Farmer
4
Joseph Farmer
4
Band 4

Joseph Farmer wins plaudits for his strong banking practice, which regularly sees him in court unled for a range of banking and corporate clients. He has in-depth knowledge of fraud and mis-selling matters, and has been involved in high-profile cases with international elements.

He is genuinely exceptional; his ability to hold in his head such detailed, complex facts and turn them into an argument is so impressive.

Joseph's technical knowledge and ability to handle complex issues is impressive.

4
Max Evans
4
Band 4

Max Evans is known for his developing banking and finance practice, which sees him representing banks in the high court. He has experience of dealing with LIBOR-related disputes, cases involving competition elements and international matters.

Max Evans is a strong lawyer and safe pair of hands.

Max is very steady, doesn't get flustered and has a good work ethic.

Nick Daly
4
Nick Daly
4
Band 4

Nick Daly is noted for his expertise in high profile, international banking and finance matters, He has experience of appearing unled for major banking clients and has appeared on both the defendant and claimant side of such matters.

He is really strategic, commercial and he understands the client's goals.

Nick's drafting and advocacy is superb.

Nick is a brilliant advocate. He is always on hand, ready to deliver and he has a commercial mindset.

4
Paul Sinclair
4
Band 4

Paul Sinclair KC is noted for his impressive practice focusing on disputes involving conspiracy and fraud, and he has a solid reputation among leading solicitor firms for the superior quality of his work. His practice is going from strength to strength, as evidenced by his key roles in cases that have proven seminal for the industry as a whole.

Paul is very responsive to clients' needs and very sensible.

He is simply excellent.

4
Simon Atrill
4
Band 4

Simon Atrill KC is highly experienced in acting for a broad variety of investment and retail banks in matters involving derivative disputes and swaps mis-selling. He has experience of acting in leading banking disputes, many of which are international in nature, including those concerning alleged EURIBOR manipulation.

Simon is very nice to work with and intelligent.

Simon is very clever and diligent.

Rupert Allen
Rupert Allen
New Silks

Rupert Allen KC is an impressive banking practitioner with significant expertise in banking and finance cases. His impressive client roster includes major international and domestic banks and financial institutions.

Rupert is hard-working, detail-oriented, has very persuasive written advocacy and is clearly trusted by clients and other barristers alike.

He is very good, very user-friendly and very good at drafting.

Ranked Barristers at
Fountain Court Chambers

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

London (Bar)

Banking & Finance

Bankim Thanki KC
Bankim Thanki KC
Star Individuals
David Railton KC
Star Individuals
Richard Handyside KC
Star Individuals
Patrick Goodall KC
1
Patrick Goodall KC
1
Band 1
Richard Lissack KC
1
Richard Lissack KC
1
Band 1
2
Andrew Mitchell KC
2
Band 2
2
Henry King KC
2
Band 2
2
Patricia Robertson KC
2
Band 2
2
Richard Coleman KC
2
Band 2
2
Rosalind Phelps KC
2
Band 2
2
Tamara Oppenheimer KC
2
Band 2
2
Timothy Howe KC
2
Band 2
3
Adam Zellick KC
3
Band 3
3
Ben Valentin KC
3
Band 3
James Cutress KC
3
James Cutress KC
3
Band 3
3
Jeffrey Chapman KC
3
Band 3
John Taylor KC
3
John Taylor KC
3
Band 3
3
Laura John KC
3
Band 3
4
Alexander Milner KC
4
Band 4
Giles Wheeler KC
4
Giles Wheeler KC
4
Band 4
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