Banking & Finance | UK Bar

3 Verulam Buildings remains a pre-eminent set with an excellent reputation in the City, noted for its expert handling of banking and finance matters. The set houses an extensive range of market-leading practitioners, who are skilled at tackling diverse contentious and non-contentious financial matters. Barristers here are frequently instructed to act both for and against multinational banks in cases of the utmost complexity and market profile. Highlight work includes a number of members acting in cases such as the PIFSS trial regarding alleged corruption and Johnson v Firstrank Bank, the motor finance test case being decided in the Supreme Court. One source states: "The strength in depth and variety marks out 3VB as the leading chambers for clients in the financial services sector." Another adds: "The quality is always excellent regardless of the complexity of the matter."

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.

One Essex Court is a leading banking set, praised as "excellent all-rounders but with particular strength and depth when it comes to banking and finance disputes." The set has "excellent barristers at all levels" who routinely act on behalf of international financial institutions in high-profile disputes concerning fraud, professional negligence and bribery. Members of the set are particularly experienced with regard to claims of LIBOR misrepresentation. Work highlights include members of the set being involved on both sides of Fiesta Hotels & Resorts v Deutsche Bank.

Brick Court Chambers is a prominent banking set, capable of drawing on the expertise of an impressive range of barristers. One source praises Brick Court as a "a top tier set which is more than able to handle the most complex matters." Members of the set are seasoned in handling a wide array of financial matters, including asset recovery, damages claims and contentious regulatory issues. Barristers here are instructed by a broad client base, which includes investment managers, funds and international banks. Members of the set are heavily involved in the class actions being brought against Glencore under section 90 and 90A of FSMA.

Paul Dennison and Tony Burgess co-lead the clerking team.

4 Stone Buildings is a highly capable set with a strong reputation for banking and finance work. Its barristers regularly tackle complex cases arising in the context of fraud and insolvency, as well as regulatory breaches. Its extensive client base includes multinational banks, financial corporations and institutional investors. Barristers at the set are regularly instructed in high-profile cases, such as acting in Autonomy Corporation v Michael Lynch. They are experienced at acting in offshore disputes and offer particular expertise in handling allegations of LIBOR manipulation. The set is capable of drawing on broader expertise in a range of chancery matters, company law and commercial arbitration. A source notes that the set's members are "experts in their field, always having the experience in niche parts of the law and answers on the tip of their tongues."

Ben Lashmar and Ryan Tunkel are joint senior clerks.

Blackstone Chambers is particularly known for its work on the regulatory side of banking matters. The set possesses a "very strong bench of silks" who have experience of acting in high-profile and high-value matters in a range of roles, including acting for banks as well as regulators. One source praises the set as "undoubtedly the leading set for financial services regulatory disputes, with strength in depth amongst seniors and juniors."

Derek Sutton and Adam Sloane are joint senior clerks.

Essex Court Chambers is an excellent choice for banking law matters and enjoys a strong reputation for its deft handling of high-profile international litigation. The barristers at the set are "extremely high calibre at all levels" and are routinely instructed to act on behalf of a variety of clients, ranging from global banks and funds to investment managers and sovereign governments. They are also praised for being "extremely strong practitioners who are approachable and easy to deal with." Frequent complex matters tackled by the set include claims of LIBOR manipulation and swaps mis-selling, as well as fraud and bribery trials. Notable recent work includes acting for the Republic of Mozambique in the dispute with Credit Suisse and appearing in FDIC v Barclays Bank.

South Square remains a popular choice for clients seeking assistance with a broad spectrum of financial matters. The set is noted for its prowess in insolvency-related disputes, with barristers regularly bringing their expertise to bear in major domestic and international litigation. Members of chambers are also highly proficient at advising on claims of fraud, bribery and debt recovery. Commentators report that the set has "expertise beyond what others can offer." Notable matters for the set include representing BNP Paribas against Uro Property and the joint administrators of Greensill Bank on issues relating to ownership of funds.

Twenty Essex is a well-regarded set in the banking and finance space. Members at the set have experience in handling fraud and asset recovery work in particular. Recent work highlights include acting for the Bank of Baroda against NMC as well as being heavily involved in the Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse, Prinvest & ors case. Commentators praise the set's "commercial advice on complex matters" and its "remarkable ability of simplifying extremely complex issues into a comprehensive and convincing line of argument."

Arron Zitver, Christopher Theobald and Anthony Carroll are the practice directors.