Gough Square Chambers

This set provides specialist advice and representation in all aspects of consumer, regulatory and finance law and offers expertise in additional areas in the commercial business field.

The set: The set has a progressive approach to its work and aims to provide a friendly and flexible service at competitive rates. Members are responsive to the needs of business and are ready to give advice at short notice as required.

Clients include City, regional and company solicitors acting for banks, building societies, finance houses and other lenders, as well as leading supermarkets, retailers and manufacturers, cosmetics companies, and distributors. Chambers is also happy to accept instructions by direct professional access.

Chambers publishes a free quarterly Trading Law Bulletin detailing recent legal developments (which can be sent to those interested on request) and the Consumer and Trading Law Reports, in six parts per year. Seminars and conferences on consumer law are also given.

Types of work undertaken: Chambers' expertise in consumer law results in members advising and representing clients in relation to consumer credit, secured lending, timeshare and package holidays, trading schemes and franchising, food safety, trade descriptions, pricing, advertising and marketing, sale and supply contracts, unfair contract terms, weights and measures, data protection, health and safety, environmental pollution, product safety, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Individual members of chambers also have expertise in a number of other areas, including banking, sale of goods, commercial contracts, company and partnership, landlord and tenant, employment, trusts, pension schemes, insolvency and professional negligence.

Chambers' consumer work spans the full range of both the civil and criminal tribunals. Whilst chambers handles the day-to-day litigation encountered in these areas of law, it is also involved in advising business clients more specifically, including due diligence on acquisitions, how to conduct their business so that they can obtain and keep any necessary licences, how to ensure the enforceability of contracts, and how to avoid or handle the attention of regulatory authorities (such as environmental health officers, trading standards departments and the Financial Conduct Authority). For example, chambers has particular experience appearing in consumer credit licensing matters. This consumer work can also involve advising clients on the drafting of consumer contracts, notices, policy documents, procedure manuals and advising whether or not advertising and sales techniques are legitimate.

Members of chambers also regularly act for and advise central and local government enforcement agencies.