Fountain Court Chambers

Philippa Hamilton (now Hardwick) holds a broad portfolio of legal and non-legal appointments, focusing on regulation, standards, governance and risk.

Philippa was a trained economist as well as a barrister, and is an effective, energetic and committed board and panel member. She holds a portfolio of non-executive appointments focussing on law, standards, governance and risk.   Her recent roles (many public facing, including senior roles serving on determinations panels) demand sound judgement, high integrity and scrupulous fairness.

Her legal career spanned a range of civil and commercial disputes, with a particular focus on product liability and financial services. She acted both in advisory and representative capacities, both led and unled and had experience at all levels of the courts (and tribunals).

Philippa has particular competence in dealing with complex technical issues including those involving accounting issues, financial products, statistics and epidemiology. Her professional and people skills have been deployed and developed across her portfolio, for example in her roles for the Financial Reporting Council, the Cabinet Office’s Security Vetting Appeals Panel and the Department of Health’s Committee on Mutagenicity. Philippa has been a Door Tenant at Fountain Court since 2012.

Financial Reporting Council: Legal member of regulatory enforcement board (Conduct Committee); legally qualified Chair of Case Management Committee (2018 – ); member of Audit Procedures Working Group (2020-). Security Vetting Appeals Panel: Quasi-judicial Cabinet Office review panel (chaired by Dame Heather Hallett and Sir Antony Edwards-Stuart); Prime Ministerial Appointment determining final Vetting decision appeals (July 2015 – ). Department of Health’s Committee on Mutagenicity (‘COM’): Member (lay). Independent body advising governmental departments/regulatory agencies on genetic toxicity of chemicals in foods, consumer products and the environment (2013 –2019). Chichester District Council: Elected Member (2009 -2019): Cabinet Member responsible for Finance & Governance portfolio (2015 – 2018); Standards Committee (Chairman) – regulatory and disciplinary role (2009-2019); Strategic Risk Group (Chairman) – (2015 – 2018); Corporate Governance & Audit Committee – (2009 – 2019); Investigations and Disciplinary Committee – (2009 – 2015); Planning Committee (2009-2015). Trusthouse Charitable Foundation: Vice-Chair and Trustee of this National grant-giving foundation (2011 – ); Grants committee member (2011-2018); Finance committee member (2011- ); Chaired the “Hope Inside” Conference  – discussing mental health projects in criminal justice system (February 2013). Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Committee for Sussex: member (2009 – 2015). Responsible for regulation and future demand for magistrates in region. Conducted recruitment process of new members of the magistracy.

St Paul’s Girls’ School Oxford University, Brasenose College (PPE, Scholar 1989; BA Hons 2:1 1991) Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, finalist 1993 Lincoln’s Inn, CPE Scholarship -1994 Distinction, City University, Dip. Law (CPE) – 1995 Lincoln’s Inn, Mansfield Scholar – 1995 Lincoln’s Inn, Major Scholar – 1996