SILK PROFILE

Saima Hanif KC

UK Bar 2026

3 Verulam Buildings

Ranked in 4 practice areas

Sanctions

All Circuits

2 years ranked

Financial Services

London (Bar)

15 years ranked

Professional Discipline

London (Bar)

14 years ranked

Banking & Finance

London (Bar)

3 years ranked

About

Provided by 3 Verulam Buildings

Practice Areas

Saima is a recognised expert in contentious FS, and has acted in various high-profile disputes e.g. the SKAT ‘dividend arbitrage’ litigation, the Forex manipulation scandal, and the 1MDB investigation in Singapore. She's currently sole counsel in two major FCA investigations and was instructed by the PRA in the publicised action against Vocalink Ltd, Wyelands Bank, its former CEO, Mr Hunter and former NED Mr Hambro. She appears regularly in the Upper Tribunal (Tinney v FCA, achieving an unprecedented outcome), Roberts v FCA, acted for the former-CEO of Catalyst, Khan v FCA, Karan v FSA & UBS) and has extensive cross-border experience, acting in Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai (Siddique v DFSA, Ro let v DFSA) the Isle of Man and Guernsey. She represented the claimant in: two rare successful JRs of the FCA (Ford v FSA, T & I v FCA); a landmark FOS JR (Chancery v FOS) and a Court of Appeal to a FOS jurisdiction decision (Assurant v FOS). She has expertise in sanctions law, with experience across the Iranian, Russian, Venezualan and Syrian sanctions regime and the EU Blocking regulation.

Career

Call: 2002; Silk: 2021; Listed in the Lawyer’s Hot 100 in 2021 and the Women in Investigations 2025 top 100 list by GIR; 2023: appointed as a SDM in Guernsey and a Justice of the Astana IFC Court. Previous Secondments: FSA; Cli ford Chance; FMLC, Bank of England; FCA (GCD).

Professional Memberships

COMBAR, FSLA, JUSTICE Council Member

Publications

Co-editor: Disciplinary & Regulatory Proceedings (Jordans), Phipson on Evidence (Sweet & Maxwell)

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

UK Bar

Sanctions - All Circuits

Band 2

Individual Editorial

Saima Hanif KC of 3 Verulam Buildings is recommended for her specialist knowledge of the intersection of sanctions and the banking and financial services sector. She has experience assisting some of the largest financial institutions in the world on sanctions mandates. She has particular expertise in assisting with contractual disputes and international arbitrations arising out of claimed force majeure events, following the sanctioning of involved parties.

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Financial Services - London (Bar)

Band 2

Individual Editorial

Saima Hanif KC is a well-respected barrister who represents both individuals and institutions undergoing investigation and enforcement proceedings by financial regulators. She also specialises in global financial services regulation with a particular focus across EMEA and Asia-Pacific.

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Professional Discipline - London (Bar)

Band 3

Individual Editorial

Saima Hanif KC is an accomplished barrister who is particularly well known for her adroit representation of financial services professionals in a wide range of disciplinary issues. She is also called upon to tackle significant healthcare, education and legal disciplinary matters.

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Banking & Finance - London (Bar)

Band 4

Individual Editorial

Saima Hanif KC is known for her work on a range of banking matters, including acting in large cross-border fraud disputes. She also has experience in investigations and sanctions-related cases, specialising in regulatory-related matters.

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Saima is extremely skilled at handling sanctions litigation matters for financial services clients.
SanctionsUK Bar
Saima is a formidable advocate and very good on her feet.
SanctionsUK Bar
Saima is excellent and provided first-rate advice on a knotty sanctions issue that has real geopolitical significance. She is a clear, crisp and deep thinker.
SanctionsUK Bar
Saima has a commanding presence and encyclopedic knowledge of financial sanctions legislation. She combines a public law, financial services and sanctions practice to deliver seamless advice.
SanctionsUK Bar
Saima is a no-nonsense straight talker who has an ability to cut straight to the heart of the issue, which is enormously helpful when tensions are running high.
SanctionsUK Bar
Saima is a slick and sophisticated operator who provides an excellent level of client service. She is personal, practical and commercially aware and isn't afraid to deliver difficult advice.
Financial ServicesUK Bar