
Fountain Court Chambers
Bankim Thanki QC

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Barrister Information
Barrister profile for UK Bar 2022
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UK Bar
Aviation - London (Bar)
Band 2
Bankim Thanki QC is a formidable and heavily in-demand barrister who is also the head of chambers. He is regularly instructed in considerable transactional, commercial and regulatory matters in domestic and international jurisdictions. As well as handling heavyweight contractual disputes, he provides cutting-edge advice to airlines on a raft of regulatory matters.
Strengths: "He's got an outstanding intellect and he gives clients what they most need, which is a clear and well-judged advice."
Recent work: Advised Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier on the sale of its subsidiary, Short Brothers, to Spirit Aerosystems as part of a USD1.1 billion deal.
Banking & Finance - London (Bar)
Star Individuals
Bankim Thanki QC is an extraordinarily versatile silk with a superb reputation in an array of practice areas including civil fraud, financial services, offshore and international arbitration, among others. 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. Commentators are impressed by his charming manner, which never fails to win over clients.
Strengths: "He has gravitas. He is a very accomplished performer." "He is massively well respected, very user-friendly, very proactive and very calm and measured in his approach."
Recent work: Acted for Ukraine in the USD3 billion Eurobond loan default claim brought on behalf of the Russian Federation in the Financial List in London.
Insurance - London (Bar)
Band 2
Bankim Thanki QC is head of chambers and is particularly well known for taking on major insurance cases in the financial sector. He handles claims in a wide range of insurance and reinsurance disputes. Thanki is particularly skilled at handling matters relating to D&O claims.
Strengths: "He is a highly experienced advocate."
Professional Negligence - London (Bar)
Band 3
Bankim Thanki QC is an experienced commercial barrister who centres his professional negligence work on the financial sector. He has dealt with numerous claims relating to insurance, fund management and financial mis-selling. Many of these concern revelations arising in the context of the credit crunch and its aftermath.
Strengths: "A terrific barrister: very bright and a very good advocate who has the ear of the court."
Recent work: Acted for Clydesdale Bank defending a class action alleging deceit, misrepresentation, negligence and breach of contract relating to fixed-rate loans sold by the bank to thousands of customers.
Fraud: Civil - London (Bar)
Band 1
Bankim Thanki QC runs a busy practice that includes regular instructions in civil fraud arbitrations and litigation. He also serves as head of chambers. His cases span various jurisdictions and relate to such allegations as bribery and duress.
Strengths: "A very charming and thorough advocate." "He is unbelievably clever, deadly in cross-examinations and his submissions are superb. The courts eat out of his hands." "A genuine all-rounder who has the universal respect of his clients, his opponents and the judiciary."
Recent work: Acted for Ukraine in a USD3 billion Eurobond claim brought on behalf of the Russian Federation in the Financial List in London. The claim involved allegations that Russia forced Ukraine to enter a transaction by menaces and blackmail.
International Arbitration: General Commercial & Insurance - London (Bar)
Band 2
Bankim Thanki QC is well regarded for the breadth of his expertise in relation to international arbitration. He has handled a number of ICC and UNCITRAL arbitrations seated in Stockholm, Singapore and the British Virgin Islands. He also handles arbitrations under the Energy Charter Treaty. At present he serves as head of chambers. As well as acting as counsel, he also sits as arbitrator.
Strengths: "He is really good on issues involving conflicts of laws. He is a standout." "He is excellent."
Recent work: Represented Ukraine in an investment treaty arbitration brought by three Cypriot companies under the Energy Charter Treaty. The claim involves allegations of expropriation of 10.5 billion cubic metres of gas.
Commercial Dispute Resolution - London (Bar)
Band 1
Strengths: "Picks up the biggest work at the Bar as he's unbelievably clever and his cross-examination is deadly."
Recent work: Acted for Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited in a case against prominent Indian businessman Anil Dhirajlal Ambani. The case arose out of the default by Reliance Communications, one of Mr Ambani’s companies, on a written facility agreement entered into with the bank.
Financial Services - London (Bar)
Band 1
Bankim Thanki QC is much valued by banks, on both the retail and investment sides, for his ability to construct a highly sophisticated defence in response to regulatory inquiries by the FCA, PRA and SFO. A strong background in commercial litigation combined with extensive international experience makes him a powerful choice for City institutions. He is also sought out to represent accountants.
Strengths: "He's extremely authoritative, hard-working and knowledgeable. He's measured and sophisticated in client handling. The complete-package barrister." "He is always very calm and has excellent judgement - you go to him for absolutely the best."
Travel: Regulatory & Commercial - London (Bar)
Band 2
Bankim Thanki QC is a leading aviation silk who regularly receives instructions from airlines, contractors and regulators. He handles commercial disputes over airport development and operation, and offers regulatory assistance with regard to liabilities in the context of tour operator bankruptcy.
Strengths: "He has great sector knowledge - it's great to have that understanding of the industry combined with his strategic knowledge of how the M&A dispute will be handled. He is also an absolute pleasure to work with - very down-to-earth and a team player. He doesn't stand on ceremony."
Barrister information
This content is provided by Bankim Thanki QC
Practice Areas
Bankim Thanki QC is generally recognised as one of the pre-eminent Silks practising at the English Commercial Bar, with an emphasis on commercial litigation and arbitration, as well as investigations and inquiries (public and private). He has been described by The Times as “One of London’s leading commercial silks” and as “… one of the superstars of the UK Bar”.
He recently appeared in the UK Supreme Court in Pakistan International Airline Corporation (Respondent) v Times Travel [2021] UKSC 40 and is currently acting for Ukraine in proceedings before the Supreme Court in the US$3 billion Eurobond claim brought on behalf of the Russian Federation in the Financial List, in which he secured a significant victory in the Court of Appeal: [2019] 2 WLR 655. He successfully represented Barclays Bank in the case which saw the first judgment handed down in the Financial List in London (GSO Credit v Barclays Bank [2017] 1 All ER (Comm) 421). He also successfully represented BP in the first case brought to trial under the Commercial Court’s Shorter Trials Scheme and ENRC in the Court of Appeal in SFO v ENRC: [2019] 1 WLR 791.
Other notable cases include leading successfully for GMR in its dispute with the Republic of the Maldives over the international airport at Malé, for Deloitte LLP in its successful appeal against the record fine imposed by the Financial Reporting Council over its involvement with the Phoenix Four/MG Rover, for KPMG in successfully disputing the sanctions sought by the Financial Reporting Council over its CASS audits of BNY, for Vincent Tchenguiz in his successful claim against the SFO, for the Central Bank of Trinidad & Tobago in the Colonial Life Enquiry, for the Bar Council in R (Prudential) v HMRC, for Lloyds Banking Group in the OFT test case on bank charges, for the son of the King of Bahrain in his claim against Michael Jackson, for the Bank of England in Three Rivers and for Qantas in The Deep Vein Thrombosis and Air Travel Group Litigation.
Bankim regularly advises and represents clients facing SFO and FCA investigations. He has also been instructed to advise the central banks of a number of countries including the Central Bank of Belize, the Deutsche Bundesbank, the Bank of England, the Bank of Namibia and the Central Bank of Trinidad & Tobago.
He regularly acts for clients offshore and has appeared recently in cases in the British Virgin Islands, Trinidad & Tobago and the Isle of Man. He is currently advising or has recently advised clients in relation to litigation, investigations or inquiries in New York, Abu Dhabi, The Bahamas, Hong Kong, Jersey, Singapore, the Isle of Man, Taiwan and Trinidad & Tobago.
Bankim regularly provides expert evidence on English law to foreign courts or tribunals and has done so recently for cases before courts in the USA, Hong Kong and Brazil.
He accepts appointments as an arbitrator and has conducted LCIA, UNCITRAL, ICC, SIAC and ad hoc arbitrations.
Career
Called to the Bar 1988. Silk 2003. Bencher, Middle Temple 2008. Head of Fountain Court Chambers since 2018.
Professional Memberships
Commercial Bar Association.
Publications
He is the editor of the Law of Privilege (Oxford, 3rd ed 2018)
Personal
Educated at Balliol College, Oxford (BA, 1st Class Hons 1986; MA 1989). Harmsworth Scholar, Middle Temple, 1988.
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Fountain Court
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London
Greater London
UK
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