Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Financial Crime - London (Bar)

2
Band 2

What the Team is Known For

Matrix Chambers is well regarded for its handling of complex financial crime cases and is routinely instructed to act on behalf both of major corporations and individual clients, including several bankers, directors, politicians and high net worth individuals. Members are noted for their expertise in international cases and are active across multiple jurisdictions such as Hong Kong and ones in the Middle East and the Caribbean. Areas of significant strength for the team include Serious Fraud Office, Financial Conduct Authority and Department of Justice investigations, as well as advisory work concerning politically motivated charges and bribery compliance regimes. Clients recognise the set for providing "great legal analysis coupled with pragmatic commercial advice." Recent work from the set has included involvement in the SFO prosecution of Petrofac regarding a multi-million pound bribery.

Paul Venables is senior practice manager.

Strengths

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Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Clare Montgomery
Star Individuals

Clare Montgomery KC is a widely acclaimed, top-drawer silk whose talents are in considerable demand both at home and abroad. She acts for individuals and corporations, and is an elite practitioner whose advocacy skills are employed to great effect in appellate cases. Her practice has an international range and she has particular expertise in handling Hong Kong's most high-profile financial crime matters. She is routinely called upon for her ability to handle the most complex fraud cases.

Clare is brilliant in all respects.

Clare is absolutely stellar and continues to be right at the top of the practice.

Clare is a phenomenal practitioner.

1
Adrian Waterman
1
Band 1

Adrian Waterman KC is a criminal silk with an established focus on financial crime cases. He is acknowledged for his expertise in all manner of business-related crimes, including bribery and fraud cases.

Adrian is a phenomenal jury advocate. He is passionate and picks all the best points he could make and his humanity comes through.

Alex Bailin
1
Alex Bailin
1
Band 1

Alex Bailin KC is a popular choice of adviser for financial market-related matters, who is no stranger to finance, having had a career in derivatives trading before coming to the Bar. He is applauded for being quick to grasp the facts at hand as well as for his winning interpersonal skills with solicitors and lay clients. He has considerable experience of representing blue-chip clients in rate manipulation and corruption matters.

Alex is great. He is the most responsive professional, he is so reliable.

Alex is brilliant on complex regulatory matters regarding financial crime. He has a brilliant ability to grasp complex matters.

Alex is a very savvy operator and good with clients.

1
Nichola Higgins
1
Band 1

Nichola Higgins has an impressive corporate client base and a strong record of acting in high-stakes corruption matters. She is also experienced in significant bribery matters. Higgins is capable of handling government and internal investigations alike, including those with a multi-jurisdictional reach.

Nicola is very good at managing high net worth clients. She is an excellent lawyer, creative and strategic.

Nichola is extremely hard-working and has an excellent legal mind.

She is a formidable opponent and fights very strongly for her clients.

1
Tim Owen
1
Band 1

Tim Owen KC has an impressively broad practice ‒ of which financial crime is just one strand. He is particularly good at advising listed companies on potential bribery charges and is also valued for his AML expertise. His practice has a notable global reach, as evidenced by his experience in fraud and extradition matters in jurisdictions including Hong Kong and the Turks & Caicos Islands.

He is very good and lovely to work with.

His advocacy is very strong. He is simply the best.

Richard Whittam
2
Richard Whittam
2
Band 2

Richard Whittam KC is a distinguished former First Senior Treasury Counsel with extensive experience in criminal cases. He is noted for his expertise in defending and prosecuting fraud, bribery and corruption cases. He is also a popular choice for private prosecutions.

Richard is a very impressive silk who has great client care and great insight into the case.

Richard is a real gentleman. He is incredibly bright and a persuasive advocate. He is always available to bounce ideas around which is refreshing in a silk.

Richard is great. Juries and judges love him. He is very practical and makes very complicated matters seem very straightforward.

2
Vedrana Pehar
2
Band 2

Vedrana Pehar is recognised for her expertise in significant financial crime cases and has a strong track record in fraud, money laundering and corruption cases. She offers particular experience in cases with sanction issues and multi-jurisdictional matters.

Vedrana is super bright, so engaged with clients, very hard-working and committed.

Vedrana is very good with clients, her judgement is really spot on and she works really hard.

Jamas Hodivala
3
Jamas Hodivala
3
Band 3

Jamas Hodivala KC is recognised in the market for his wealth of experience acting in large financial crime investigations and prosecutions. He is well placed to handle matters involving allegations of fraud, bribery, corruption and money laundering.

Jamas is fantastic at the intersection between public law and criminal law.

Jamas is very impressive.

Ranked Barristers at
Matrix Chambers

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

London (Bar)

Financial Crime

Clare Montgomery KC
Star Individuals
1
Adrian Waterman KC
1
Band 1
Alex Bailin KC
1
Alex Bailin KC
1
Band 1
1
Tim Owen KC
1
Band 1
Richard Whittam KC
2
Richard Whittam KC
2
Band 2
Jamas Hodivala KC
3
Jamas Hodivala KC
3
Band 3
Financial Crime: Corporates

Clare Montgomery KC
Star Individuals
Alex Bailin KC
1
Alex Bailin KC
1
Band 1
2
Tim Owen KC
2
Band 2
Financial Crime: Private Prosecutions

Richard Whittam KC
2
Richard Whittam KC
2
Band 2

Juniors

London (Bar)

Financial Crime

1
Nichola Higgins
1
Band 1
2
Vedrana Pehar
2
Band 2
Financial Crime: Corporates

1
Nichola Higgins
1
Band 1