Consumer Law | UK Bar

Gough Square regularly handles matters concerning health and safety, food and trading regulations, and consumer credit issues. Sources praise the chambers for having a "wide range of reliable and experienced barristers.” It undertakes both civil and criminal matters, regularly acting for businesses and individuals, along with local authorities. Instructing solicitors describe their expertise as "specialist and superior in this field" and point to the set's "easy to contact and eager to assist" clerking team. Members regularly appear in the High Court and Court of Appeal. The set boasts one of the deepest benches in the area and is frequently instructed in the most significant matters of the day. By way of example, members acted in R v Foster & Ors, a 14-defendant conspiracy to defraud arising out of breaches of consumer protection legislation with a benefit of £13 million.

Bob Weekes is the senior clerk.

5 Paper Buildings has tenants who are proficient in both criminal and civil consumer disputes. One client notes that: "The set has an established pedigree in consumer law and a wide range of talented barristers, many of whom both prosecute and defend in this increasingly complex and technical field.” Members are often to be found prosecuting unfair trading offences cases on behalf of regulators and local councils, but they also defend individuals against accusations of misconduct. They both prosecute and defend cases brought by regulatory bodies such as the Competition and Markets Authority, National Trading Standards, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and local trading standards departments nationwide. One individual at the set recently appeared in Operation Riso, prosecuting a specialist non-therapeutic male circumciser for offences rooted in consumer fraud.

A “commercial, pragmatic and responsive set that has excellent in-depth knowledge of this area of law,” Henderson Chambers provides advice and representation across a broad range of civil and criminal consumer matters. It has members who are respected for their skill in consumer credit work, product liability litigation and cases concerning trading regulations. Clients range from private individuals to banks, insurers, regulators and local authorities. Barristers here regularly handle litigation involving large-scale contamination of food and drink, and are experts in cases involving recalled white goods. Evidencing their expertise, members are involved in Tonge & Others v Bayer plc, a matter concerning claims being brought under the Consumer Protection Act 1987.

Jason Housden is the senior clerk.

Six Pump Court has a good bench for consumer law and is well respected for its work in cases concerning food and trade regulations, as well as consumer credit. Its tenants regularly handle civil and criminal matters for local authorities, trade bodies, farms and retailers. Evidencing their capabilities in the energy arena, members have recently acted in the OFGEM market investigations for mis-selling in respect of suppliers to the public of domestic energy. Members have also been representing participants at the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry in relation to issues surrounding technical systems, kit and components installed during the refurbishment of the tower.

Richard Constable is the senior clerk.