SILK PROFILE

Sonia Tolaney KC

UK Bar 2026

One Essex Court

Ranked in 7 practice areas

Commercial Dispute Resolution

London (Bar)

23 years ranked

Banking & Finance

London (Bar)

25 years ranked

Consumer Finance

All Circuits

3 years ranked

Fraud: Civil

London (Bar)

21 years ranked

Chancery: Commercial

London (Bar)

15 years ranked

Group Litigation

All Circuits

2 years ranked

Competition Law

London (Bar)

1 year ranked

About

Provided by One Essex Court

Practice Areas

Specialises in commercial litigation and arbitration, in particular banking (including all aspects of credit and security), commercial fraud and asset tracing, insolvency, professional negligence and insurance/reinsurance. Notable cases include: Mastercard v Merricks (2024); Banca Intesa Sanpaolo and Dexia Crediop v Comune di Venezia (2023); PAGI v Cigna (2023); Deutsche Bank v Vik (Committal) (2023); Deutsche Bank v Busto di Arsizio [2021] EWHC 2706 (Comm); Qatar Airways v Airbus (2022); Lehman Brothers Holdings Plc and LB Holdings Intermediate 2 Limited [2021] EWCA Civ 1523; WEX v Travelport [2020] EWHC 2670 (Comm); Sabbagh v Khoury [2019] EWHC 3004 (Comm); LLB Verwaltung (Switzerland) AG v Group Seven & Ors [2019] EWCA Civ 614; Deutsche Bank v Unitech [2019] EWHC 969 (Comm); ECU v HSBC [2018] EWHC 3045 (Comm); Privatbank v Kolomoisky [2018] EWHC 3308 (Ch); Deutsche Bank v Savona [2018] EWCA Civ 1740; RBS Rights Litigation [2017]; Lehman Brothers International (Europe) (In Administration) v. DB & Bank of New York Mellon [2016]; Rosneft v. HM Treasury [2015] EWHC 248; Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander v. UBS [2014] EWHC 2540 (Comm); Deutsche Bank v. Sebastian Holdings [2014] EWCA Civ 1100; HSH Nordbank AG v. Intesa Sanpaolo SpA [2014] EWHC 142; Berezovsky v. Abramovich [2012] EWHC 2463 (Comm); UBS AG v. HSH Nordbank AG [2009] EWCA Civ 585 (CA).

Career

Called 1995; KC 2011. Elected Joint Head of Chambers (2024). Appointed Deputy High Court Judge (Comm Ct) (2016). Appointed Attorney General to the Duchy of Lancaster (2021). Elected Middle Temple Bencher (2013). Chair of COMBAR (2019-2021).

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

UK Bar

Banking & Finance - London (Bar)

Star Individuals

Individual Editorial

Sonia Tolaney KC enjoys a standing as an exceptionally talented advocate with regard to banking and finance disputes. She offers additional expertise in civil fraud and insolvency cases. Tolaney is much in demand and receives regular instruction from leading sector clients, including a number of prominent national and international banks. Her specialisms in this area are myriad, but her numerous market-leading cases include several landmark disputes relating to swaps transactions, ISDA issues and contract disputes, in which she has displayed particular flair.

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Consumer Finance - All Circuits

Band 1

Individual Editorial

Sonia Tolaney KC is a leading silk who regularly represents banks and financial institutions in consumer credit cases. She further advises them on the FCA Handbook.

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Fraud: Civil - London (Bar)

Band 1

Individual Editorial

Sonia Tolaney KC is a standout silk who is particularly adept at dealing with instances of alleged banking fraud. Her work relates to a broad range of allegations, including misrepresentation, collusion and conspiracy, and is often international in nature.

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Group Litigation - All Circuits

Band 2

Individual Editorial

Sonia Tolaney KC is a highly sought-after commercial silk who frequently appears in high-profile collective actions. She is particularly adept in the representation of banks and other financial institutions.

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Competition Law - London (Bar)

Band 3

Individual Editorial

Sonia Tolaney KC is joint head of chambers of One Essex Court. She frequently acts in some of the most high-profile competition cases, many of which are closely related to her celebrated commercial practice. Tolaney often acts for financial institutions and banks. Notably, she plays an integral role acting for Mastercard in the ongoing dispute with Merricks.

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Her ability to cut through to the key issues is superb and her advocacy and ability to win over the court are remarkable.
Banking & FinanceUK Bar
She really knows the area and is fantastic in court.
Banking & FinanceUK Bar
As an advocate Sonia is excellent. She is instinctive, efficient and knows how to read the judiciary perfectly.
Banking & FinanceUK Bar
Sonia is the best advocate at the London Bar. She is just that good that she can read the judge's mind. She knows how the judge wants a case and delivers it in a super powerful but not aggressive way.
Commercial Dispute ResolutionUK Bar
Sonia is brilliant and a superstar. She strikes fear without even being there. Incredibly effective, she is very incisive and can look at both the big picture and the little picture extremely well.
Commercial Dispute ResolutionUK Bar
Putting her in front of clients is the best thing about her. As well as being very technical and good in court, she presents and explains things fantastically.
Commercial Dispute ResolutionUK Bar