Fountain Court Chambers

A leading silk at the London Bar, specialising in commercial litigation, public, administrative, professional, and regulatory law in all courts and tribunals at both domestic and international levels. Accepts appointments as arbitrator and to chair inquiries.

Recent cases include: In 2019-2020 leading for the FRC in the case against Deloitte arising out of their audits of Autonomy Plc (for which Deloitte were fined £15m), Aero Inventory Plc (2016), and their financial advice on MG Rover “The Phoenix Four” (2013-2014), for the Defendant in GEHC v Gray (Chancery Div and Court of Appeal), and for various City firms and partners in high profile SRA investigations. Led for Impact Funding Solutions v AIG in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court [2015/0050] (extent of prof indemnity cover), Leading teams for the SRA in the cases arising out of the Iraq War and Al Sweady Inquiry (SRA v Shiner, Leigh-Day and others), and in SRA v Spector [2016] All ER(D) 98 (open justice principles), Schubert Murphy (CA duty of care. Led for the SRA in a series of cases arising out of £100m losses from the Axiom Fund. Commercial Court Enterprise Insurance v Leeds United FC (2016-) (sponsorship and loan agreements).  Boreh v Republic of Djibouti and Gibson Dunn (2015 Commercial Court), Impact Funding Solutions v Barrington Support Services and AIG (2013) EWHC 4005, 2015 EWCA Civ 31 Professional Indemnity Insurance Cover), R (Lumsdon and others) v LSB, BSB (QASA Scheme litigation 2014 EWHC 28(Admin), EWCA Civ 1276 and UKSC 2014/2072), Hemming v Westminster City Council UKSC 2013/0146 Jan 2015 hearing acting for numerous regulators), Coventry v Lawrence (UKSC 2012/0076 Feb 2015 hearing: pre Jackson legislation and compliance with HR Act 1998), Law Society v Shah 2014 EWHC 4382 (Ch), jurisdiction to grant injunction to uphold the law), In re Law Society/SRA 2015 EWHC 166 (Ch), doc destruction and statutory trusts), Sutherland Professional Funding v Bakewells (2013 EWHC 2685), FRC v Deloitte and Einollahi (MG Rover 2013, 2014 Admin Court, 2015 Appeal acting for the FRC), London Underground v Freshfields and Herbert Smith (2013 Commercial Court £142m claim, lead counsel for Herbert Smith) SRA v Brett (2014 EWHC 2974 (Admin) lawyer’s duties/e-mail hacking), Shaw and Turnbull v Logue (2014 EWHC 5 (Admin), R (Nicklinson and M) v DPP, SRA and GMC (2012 EWHC 2381 Admin, Right to Die), JSC ABT Bank v Ablyazov and Addleshaw Goddard (2012 EWHC 1242 (Comm), Privilege), Rusal v HSBC, Citibank, Debevoise and Plimpton [2011] EWHC 404 (led the defence for Debevoise of Rusal’s Norwich Pharmacal claims), Lead counsel for the SRA in the High Yield Investment, Miners Compensation Scheme, and phone hacking cases involving solicitors. Lead counsel for the FSA in Boiler Room cases of Fox-Hayes and Atlantic Law/Greystoke, Acted as expert in New York Supreme Court proceedings – Casa De Meadows, Prince Jeffri and others [2010], and in Chevron Corporation v Salazar and Donziger 2011, (enforceability of US$15bn judgment); Quinn Direct Insurance v The Law Society [2010] EWCA Civ 805 (Insurance cover and statutory powers); conducted the Inquiry into the World Class Payments Bureau for Sport England in 2009.

Appointed CBE 2015 for services to the UK Legal System; Called Middle Temple 1979; Bencher 2003; QC 1998; Recorder 2000-17. Deputy High Court Judge; Chairman of the Bar Council 2008, Vice-chairman of the Bar Council, 2007; Leader of the South Eastern Circuit 2004-06; Chairman Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers 2009-15; Head of Chambers 2008-13; 2009- Governor of the Legal Education Foundation.  Founder and Director Keble College Advanced Advocacy Course 1994-2004; Chairman of Working Parties leading to the creation of the Advocacy Training Council.

Contributor to Butterworth Guide to the Legal Services Act 2007. Editorial Board of Cordery. Lectures widely on areas of expertise.

French.

ALBA; ARDL; COMBAR; LCLCBA.

Repton School; Keble College, Oxford (1978 BA Jurisprudence).

Sailing, music. Founder and Trustee Bar Choral Society.