Henderson Chambers

hendersonchambers.co.uk

Abigail Cohen

Health and safety & Inquests: advocacy and advisory experience in health and safety prosecutions in the Magistrates and Crown Courts primarily for Defendant companies facing prosecution under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and related health and safety regulations, and in civil litigation for personal injury arising out of workplace accidents. Regularly instructed to appear at Coroner’s Inquests on behalf of Interested Parties including Article 2 Inquests. Representative cases include the Buncefield criminal prosecution (junior to Roger Henderson QC and Prashant Popat QC) which led to a 3 month jury trial at St Albans Crown Court; Defended company prosecuted under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (led by Prashant Popat QC). The prosecution was dismissed at a pre-trial review following legal argument as to the correct interpretation of the RRO; Inquests on behalf of Ministry of Justice re prison suicides. Product Liability & Commercial disputes including Group Actions: Regularly instructed to advise in claims under the CPA 1987 and/or in negligence in relation to various products. For example, instructed by leading pharmaceutical company in relation to cases concerning medicinal products. Other recent representative cases include acting for food manufacturer re EU regulatory regimes governing food additives and enzymes, acting for manufacturers re claims for property damage arising from flooding due to defective tap valves, acting for manufacturer of equipment used by disabled persons for access to pools.Instructed in commercial disputes including supply chain disputes re conformance to specification of products supplied under contract; third party claims between contractors and sub contractors.In Group Actions regularly instructed for example in a group action (led by Charles Gibson QC) arising out of two oil spills in the Niger Delta brought in the English courts by several thousand Nigerian nationals. Instructed by MOD in over 100 claims brought in respect of hearing loss and re adequateness of hearing protection/PPE provided. Instructed by MOJ in over 1,000 claims brought for historic child sex abuse in detention centre in 1970/1980s.Further experience in Employment law; for example recently acted in 5 day disability discrimination trial for employer and regularly instructed to appear in Tribunal.Junior Counsel to the Crown (C Panel).

Adam Heppinstall KC

Adam has recognised expertise in product liability, ESG actions, public, regulatory, commercial and employment law. He is a group action specialist. He has acted for a number of corporate groups facing mass tort actions (including based on their parent company liability for the acts of their subsidiaries and/or supply chains abroad) including Dyson, Camellia, Shell, Unilever, G4S and Cape. He is acting in a number of ESG related claims/group actions relating to supply chains and climate change. He has extensive service out, setting service out aside, forum and conflicts experience. He has also acted in a number of domestic product liability group actions, including in relation to NOx, Pandemrix, vaginal mesh, anti-depressants, hormone tablets, pacemakers and for GSK in the Seroxat group action. He has advised upon and conducted a wide variety of COVID-19 related litigation (PPE, testing, FOIA, procurement vaccines, and employment law). He leads for a Government Department before the Covid Inquiry. He is used to dealing with complex medical/epidemiological evidence and is a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society and an Associate of the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. He has extensive automotive and white goods product liability experience, including in product recalls, dealing with Trading Standards and OPSS. He is experienced in costs and funding issues, particularly in group actions. He acted for a Core Participant before the Grenfell Inquiry and has represented a number of clients before Coroner’s Inquests, regulatory tribunals (he has appeared in all of the non-tax Chambers of the FTT and UT, as well as the Investigatory Powers Tribunal and has conduct of cases before the Plant Varieties and Seeds Tribunal) and in health and safety/regulatory matters before the criminal courts. He is also expert in claims and regulatory actions relating to vehicles, emissions, noise, vibration, farming, food, medicines, medical devices, chemicals, seeds, fire alarms, fire safety, oil, ionising radiation and flooding. He has prosecuted for and has advised the MHRA, the Foods Standards Agency and the Environment Agency. He has extensive mesothelioma and asbestos-related conditions experience. He is regularly instructed in commercial arbitrations and public procurement disputes. He has public and employment law practices. He was Junior Counsel to the Crown (A-C Panels, 2004 until 2021) and has acted, and continues to act for government departments in a large range of matters, in particular DHSC, HM Prisons, and the MOD (not least in a series of serious personal injury claims, employment tribunals and group actions) He has addressed the Supreme Court in a regulatory judicial review which was referred to the CJEU. He appeared for the GMC in the Professor Sir Roy Meadow proceedings and before the Shipman Inquiry. He acts for private clients in judicial reviews, including against regulatory decisions (in particular relating to the regulation of medicines and medical devices) and as interested parties (for example in relation to climate change related claims). He acts in FOIA and GDPR proceedings (including in relation to archives, historic events and national security issues). He produced a report for the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in relation to the appointment of Richard Sharp, Chair of the BBC. He is available for instruction to carry out or to advise upon private or public investigations and inquiries.

Alan Dashwood KC

Barrister specialising in the law of the European Union, in particular choice of legal basis issues, direct effect of community provisions, employment, sex discrimination and protection of fundamental rights; environment; the law relating to the internal market, including public procurement and product liability; competition; anti-dumping and external relations generally; agriculture; fisheries; and education. Formerly, Director, Legal Service, Council of the EU 1987-94. Areas of responsibility in the Council’s Legal Service were at various times: institutional questions; the Budget; agriculture and fisheries; external relations, including the WTO and the CFSP. Recent cases before the European Court of Justice include: (in the employment field) Cases C-397 to C-403/01, ‘Pfeiffer’, on the possibility of reliance on Article 6 of the Working Time Directive to challenge the validity of German legislation allowing on-call workers to be employed in excess of the 48-hour weekly limit; case C-411/05, ‘Palacios de la Villa’, where compulsory retirement clauses in collective agreements were found, in the circumstances, to be compatible with the prohibition against age discrimination in Directive 2000/78; Case C-427/06, ‘Bartsch’, on the compatibility with the same directive of an age-gap clause in an occupational pension scheme; (in the field of counter-terrorism) Cases C-402 and 415/05P, ‘Kadi and Yusuf’, on appeal from the CFI, where the ECJ held that it has jurisdiction to review the legality, on fundamental rights grounds, of Community measures implementing UN Security Council resolutions, freezing the assets of individuals suspected of being associated with terrorism; ((in the WTO field) Case C-431/05, ‘Merck Genericos’, on the application of the TRIPS Agreement within the Community legal order; Case C-13/07, on the rules governing the agreement of the EU to the accession of Vietnam to the WTO opinion 1/08, on the amendment of the EC’s schedule of GATS commitments; (in the EU constitutional field) Case C-91/05, ‘Small Arms and Light Weapons’, on the interface between Community development co-operation policy and the common foreign and security policy; Cases 77 and 137/05 on the UK’s special status under the Schengen Protocol; Case C-303/05, ‘Advocaten voor de Wereld’, on the Framework Decision on the European Arrest Warrant; and opinion 1/09 on the establishment of a European patent jurisdiction.

Andrew Kinnier KC

Barrister; QC (2018); Counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry (2017-); Junior Counsel to the Crown (A Panel) 2011-2018; Junior Counsel to the Crown (B Panel) 2008-2011; Junior Counsel to the Welsh Government (A panel – Public Law) 2011-2018; Junior Counsel to the Welsh Government (A Panel) 2008-2011

Angus Withington KC

Angus is a specialist Health and Safety practitioner with extensive experience acting for companies and individuals facing health and safety prosecutions in all courts up to and including the Court of Appeal. He also appears in related Inquests and can provide early advice on regulatory duties (such as product recall and challenging prohibition notices) as well as the best tactical approach to responding to criminal investigations. He is regularly instructed in high profile and difficult cases including corporate manslaughter and other fatal workplace accidents. His clients include product manufacturers (including medical devices), public utility companies, construction companies, theme and leisure park owners, care homes, charities, public authorities and individual employees.

Arnold Ayoo

Arnold specialises in heavy commercial litigation but accepts instructions across a spread of Chambers’ practice areas. He has particular expertise in insolvency, banking and consumer finance – as well as a focus on group litigation and product liability. Arnold’s background in high value multi-party litigation has seen him regularly appear as sole counsel in the High Court. In that capacity he has been involved in numerous recent precedent-setting decisions in his specialist areas (see Capital Funding One Limited v Esqulant [2020] EWHC 981 (QB); Wolf Rock (Cornwall) Limited v Raila Langhelle [2021] B.C.C. 67 and Points of View v Erre DB Group SA [2021] 2 WLUK 70 to name a few). He also acts in high value international arbitrations and has recently (as sole counsel) concluded a multi-million dollar ICC oil arbitration involving an African State, the State-owned oil company and its oil-exploration partners. In 2021, Arnold is instructed (as sole counsel) on a £4m claim in the High Court concerning an intention to defraud creditors (s.423 Insolvency Act 1986) and is acting for an investment bank in a £3m Commercial Court action against a South African gold mining company, arising from a $50m brokerage contract. In 2022 he will appear for the respondent in the Supreme Court in a generationally decisive case on unjust enrichment (Barton v Gwyn Jones [2019] EWCA Civ 1999). Indeed, he has a particular interest in cases with an international element. In 2020 he obtained a security for costs order against a China-domiciled Claimant and appeared (as sole counsel) before the QBD of the High Court in a case concerning the conversion of an Italian freezing injunction into an English remedy for the purpose of enforcement (Manetta v De Filippo [2020] EWHC 3460 (QB)).

Beatrice Graham

Beatrice is developing a broad practice across the range of Chambers’ specialisms and welcomes instructions as both sole and junior counsel. Her practice has a specific focus on product liability, group litigation, commercial and consumer law. She was instructed as junior counsel for the Claimants in the Volkswagen NOx Litigation which was the largest Claimant cohort under GLO management in England & Wales until the matter settled in 2022. As sole counsel Beatrice has built significant experience of consumer credit work and is regularly instructed by well-known banks and financial providers in unfair relationship claims made on various grounds from alleged undisclosed and secret commission claims arising out of PPI Policies covering credit card, mortgage and loan agreements to allegations of fiduciary breach in loan broker and motor finance commission contexts. She is currently seconded part-time to the Financial Services Disputes and Investigations team of a major firm. Beatrice has gained advisory and litigation experience in the County and High Court across the practice areas of Chambers, and accepts instructions in Commercial Litigation, Group Litigation, Product Liability, Consumer Credit, and Property. Beatrice graduated from Trinity College, Oxford with a First Class degree in English Literature.

Ben Norton

Barrister

Celia Oldham

Celia is a commercial barrister specialising in group litigation and product liability disputes. She has acted in a wide range of high-profile group actions and mass tort claims, including the long-running diesel emissions litigation, multiple environmental group claims, complex multi-party consumer actions, and group claims concerning medical products. She is regularly instructed in significant product liability disputes in both unitary and group claims. She has particular experience in product liability claims which raise complex technical issues and require substantial expert evidence, as well as claims with a regulatory angle. She also has broad commercial litigation experience and acts in a wide range of commercial disputes including aviation claims, fraud claims, and claims raising issues of consumer law.

Charles Gibson KC

International commercial litigation with an emphasis on large mass tort and group actions, product liability, environmental, health and safety, regulatory and insurance law. Notable cases include: Representing BHP in the Fundao Dam Litigation, Dyson, VW in the Diesel Emissions claims; the Seroxat litigation; the Vedanta and Unilever group litigation, parent company, subsidiary jurisdiction claims; OCENSA Pipeline group litigation; Bomu Bonny Pipeline group litigation; Foodles film company Health & Safety prosecution; the Mesh Litigation; The Metal on Metal Hip litigation; the Atomic Veterans litigation; the Buncefield litigation; the Sabril litigation; Lubbe v Cape plc; Hodgson v Imperial Tobacco (the tobacco litigation); Bass Britvic v Terra; the Opren litigation; the Benzodiazepine litigation; Garland v West Wiltshire District Council; The Norplant litigation; the MMR litigation; group actions involving Prozac, Lariam, Minocin, Shiley heart valve, breast implants, drink contamination; the organo-phosphate litigation; the interest rate swap litigation; asbestos claims, mine radiation injury claims; other product liability cases for various manufacturers and producers; the Potters Bar Inquest; the King's Cross and Clapham Inquiries for the London Fire Brigade; the Severn Tunnel Inquiry.

Chloe Campbell

A broad civil and commercial practice encompassing product liability, group actions, public inquiries, personal injury, health and safety, employment, employee patent compensation, commercial disputes, finance and banking disputes, property and international business and investment disputes. Chloe has particular expertise in medical device product liability and has for many years represented a major pharmaceutical company in a number of group actions forming part of the worldwide vaginal mesh litigation. Chloe has extensive experience managing multiple claims in group actions and dealing with complex scientific and medical expert evidence. She advises and acts on a wide range of product liability claims as well as advising on product recall and labelling requirements under UK and EU consumer protection laws and the complex chain of supply disputes that arise following a product recall, often involving cross jurisdictional issues. Chloe is also a qualified mediator and applies her product liability and commercial expertise to the successful mediation of domestic and cross border disputes. Chloe also applies her background in products and group actions to public inquiry work having acted as counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Most recently her group action work includes defending an equal pay group action brought against a major UK retailer.

Christopher Adams

Barrister

David Brook

Barrister specialising in all aspects of employment law: including wrongful and unfair dismissal, discrimination, redundancy, restrictive covenants, confidential information, injunctive relief (including freezing and search orders), employee share agreements, status of agency workers, stress related claims, actions involving fraudulent employees, health insurance, transfer of undertakings, bonus claims; related commercial work undertaken. Representative cases include Onwuka v Spherion and others (EAT 21 March 2007) regarding the scope of the Igen v Wong guidelines in race discrimination claims; Glidepath BVI and Others v J Thompson and Others (High Court April 2005 AER) intervener’s action for disclosure of court file for related employment action, jurisdiction in issue, limit of confidentiality within arbitration proceedings; Astbury v Gist (on referral from the EAT 2005 and 2007) whether the employment agency should be joined as a party in order to examine a Dacas-type tripartite arrangement and subsequently substantial wages claim; Lake v Larco Ltd (EAT 2004), regarding the effect of refusing a ‘Calderbank’ offer where offer made on the basis of ‘overwhelming evidence’ against the party refuting the offer; Olatokun v Ikon (EAT May 2004 and August 2005), race discrimination whether the employer’s insistence that the employee produce her passport or be dismissed was a discriminatory act; Elliott v Pertemps (EAT 2003) for employer – time for assessment of impairment under DDA; Steen v Ikon (EAT 2003) for employer – meaning of notice where employer entitled to vary terms and bonus on notice; Clark v CPS (EAT 2002) for employee – whether late evidence is admissible, whether certain words (‘Mad Mary’) discriminating per se; Secondsite Ltd v Rowlatt & Vass (High Court 2002) injuncture relief – whether restrictive covenants valid – whether claimant entitled to seek relief given full admissions prior to issue; LSE v Pearson & Evans (High Court 2000), for employee contracts manager – allegations of secret profits and conspiracy with subcontractor to defraud college; Maynard v Dyno Rod Plc (ET 2000), for employer – alleged wrongful/unfair dismissal of managing director/share options/counterclaim of misappropriation of company funds; Dolce Vita Leisure Ltd & Intournet v Kostas Markou (High Court 2000) – junior counsel for defendant – variation of time clauses in agreement to transfer shares valued at circa £25m; Mindworks Ltd v Shear (High Court 2000), for employee director – validity of restrictive covenants – whether Anton Pillar appropriate relief – security for costs. An ADR-accredited mediator, he advises and acts in the mediated resolution of employment disputes and chairs university Academic Appeals Panel.

Douglas Maxwell

Barrister

Freya Foster

Freya has experience acting as sole and junior counsel on a range matters ranging from group actions to public inquiries and judicial review challenges. She has been instructed in a number of cases where claims are brought in the UK by groups of claimants from other jurisdictions. These cases cover a variety of allegations ranging from alleged environmental damage to intentional torts and often raise issues of private international law and the scope of liability of corporate entities. Freya was also engaged to assist in the Volkswagen NOx Litigation. Before joining Chambers, Freya was employed at the Government Legal Department where she represented and advised the Home Office and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on issues ranging from data protection to the creation of new criminal offences. She is a member of the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel. She regularly acts for both defendants and claimants in disputes relating to matters such as data protection, product liability, and consumer disputes. Prior to being called to the Bar she gained experience at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP as a paralegal, working exclusively on the RBS Rights Issue litigation, and worked as a Legal Officer in the Presidency of the International Criminal Court.

George Mallet

George is a leading junior with specialisms across the civil litigation spectrum. He regularly represented clients at all levels including as sole advocate in the High Court. He has appeared in both the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. He has particular expertise in product liability claims, banking matters and group actions. He is regularly instructed by major banks, government departments and FTSE 100 companies. George specialises in complex and fact heavy products litigation. He successfully represented the Department of Health in a claim regarding defective COVID-19 PCT testing equipment ([2024] EWHC 1071 (TCC)) and vaccinations. He has represented FTSE listed manufacturers in claims regarding manufacturing and/or design defects in relegation to engineering products ([2020] EWHC 3404 (TCC)), food products, vehicle claims and agricultural/machinery matters. As Junior Counsel to the Crown (B Panel), George represents major governmental departments, including with respect to litigation regarding the defective medical tests and vaccinations (Department of Health), human rights matters (Home Office) and military claims (including the noise induced hearing loss, the Q fever litigation and various post-traumatic stress disorder matters, all for the Ministry of Defence). George regularly represented major banks in financial disputes. He regularly represented banks (including HSBC, Barclays, Santander and Lloyds) and other lenders (including NRAM, GE Money, Blemain, Skye and Picture). He has a wealth of experience in key consumer finance matters including claims under the CCA, secret commission claims, PPI matters and motor finance actions. He also writes extensively on the topic, having co-authors the ‘consumer credit’ chapter of the Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents and contributed to Goode: Consumer Credit Law & Practice. He has contributed to Practical Law (see the Practice Note on Unfair Relationships), LexisPSL and the Journal of Banking and Finance Law and Practice.

Geraint Webb KC

Barrister (silk 2013) specialising in commercial and common law with an emphasis on group actions/class actions and multi-party litigation, cross-border and jurisdictional litigation, product liability/product safety and product recall, life sciences (pharmaceutical/medical device) claims, environmental and major property damage claims, industrial disease claims, sale of goods, negligence, inquests and public inquiries, insurance, international arbitration. Geraint has acted in many of the most high-profile group action claims of the last 20 years, typically instructed on behalf of defendants. His life sciences product liability claims include the Hormone Pregnancy Test litigation, PIP breast implant litigation, metal-on-metal hip implant litigation, Acomplia litigation, Avandia litigation, Foetal Anti-consultant litigation. He has acted in numerous group action claims concerning personal injury claims, environmental claims and human rights claims arising in various jurisdictions, including oil spill and extractive industry claims. Geraint has considerable experience of cross-border and jurisdiction disputes, including parent company/overseas subsidiary claims. He has acted in a wide range of commercial and property damage claims concerning factory/industrial explosions, fires, plant and pipeline failures in the petrochemical industry, power-generation industry and construction industry. Food/drink contamination claims include the Benzene Litigation, Para Red, Sudan 1. He has acted in international arbitrations, including insurance coverage disputes, under ICC, UNCITRAL, LCIA etc. Deputy High Court Judge (2019). Further details: www.hendersonchambers.co.uk.

Hannah Curtain

Hannah is an experienced Inquiry counsel and currently represents the Welsh Government in the UK Covid-19 Inquiry into national response to and the impact of the pandemic. Previously, Hannah acted as counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, heading a team of juniors working on the modules concerning the London Fire Brigade’s operational response to the fire, and fire safety regulation. She examined witnesses in both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry hearings. In addition to her Inquiry work, Hannah has a busy civil and common law practice, with an emphasis on product liability and employment law. She acted for the manufacturer of hip implants in the Corin Metal-on-Metal Hip group litigation, and is currently instructed by one of the manufacturers in the POP/ SUI vaginal mesh products litigation. In her employment practice, Hannah represents claimants and respondents in all types of cases including unfair dismissal, TUPE, wages, and whistleblowing, with a particular focus on discrimination claims. She appears regularly in the Employment Tribunal in complex, multi-day trials. She represented a high-profile members organisation, led by Patrick Green KC, in long-running and multi-party proceedings involving allegations of race discrimination, harassment and victimisation. She is a contributor to Tolley’s Employment Law Service, and author of the Equality Act chapter of Tolley’s Health and Safety at Work Service.

Harrison Denner

Harrison has a broad practice, with a wealth of experience both led and unled in a variety of fields. Harrison has a particular focus on commercial litigation, as well as banking and consumer finance, product liability and group actions. Prior to joining Chambers, Harrison graduated from Oxford University with a BA in jurisprudence, followed by obtaining a Distinction from UCL in the LLM and an Outstanding on the BPTC. He also worked at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP as a corporate paralegal.

Henry Warwick KC

Henry Warwick KC is a leading practitioner at the Bar in England & Wales in commercial disputes, in group litigation and collective redress, and, among other areas, banking and financial services. Henry has particular expertise in large scale multi-party actions. He acted for the successful claimants in The Post Office Group Litigation, for GSK in the Seroxat Group Litigation and has acted for claimants and defendants alike in a range of financial services, consumer law and other multi-party disputes, including environmental claims. Henry is instructed in high value commercial cases in the Business and Property Courts. His practice ranges from fraud and insolvency claims such as recent proceedings arising from the administration of London Capital & Finance Plc and sovereign wealth fund litigation Libyan Investment Authority v. King & others, to claims arising from corporate restructuring, agency, joint venture and other investment disputes. He has particular expertise in the economic torts and in financial sanctions. Henry is routinely instructed in associated costs and funding disputes, including by household name professional funders. Henry represented UK nationals in the remaining 27 EU member states in R (Miller & others) v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union [2017] UKSC 6, and in a challenge to EU measures inhibiting Brexit negotiations in Fair Deal v Commission (T-713/16). He appears in all divisions of the High Court, in appeals, arbitrations and in mediations; he also acts in claims conducted in offshore jurisdictions including Gibraltar and the Isle of Man.

Isha Shakir

Isha has a broad commercial litigation practice. She regularly appears in the County Court and the Winding Up Court. She has recently been instructed as sole counsel in the High Court in a £200,000 commercial case. Isha has worked on matters across a spectrum of practice areas within Chambers, encompassing group litigation, product liability, property, health and safety, employment, consumer credit, data protection, civil fraud, and harassment cases. Isha recently embarked on a one-month secondment with Griffiths and Partners in the Turks and Caicos Islands, gaining invaluable experience while working closely with the litigation team on a range of cases. Isha graduated top of her year in Law at the University of York and has completed the BCL at the University of Oxford. She received the Queen Mother scholarship from Middle Temple. Isha has also spoken at the House of Lords. Before starting pupillage, she volunteered for the Citizens Advice Bureau. Isha welcomes instructions in all practice areas within Chambers, both as sole and junior counsel.

Jack Castle

Jack practices in commercial, financial services, product liability, employment, procurement and public law/human rights. He has appeared as sole and junior counsel in significant reported cases across his areas of practice, and acts for claimants and defendants in individual and group claims. Clients include individuals, corporations, public authorities, finance houses, NGOs and central government. Full details of Jack’s practice can be found at https://www.hendersonchambers.co.uk/barristers/jack-castle/

James White

James has a busy commercial practice with an emphasis on group litigation, competition law and financial services disputes. James also has solid experience of consumer law, EU and regulatory matters, and employment law. James has extensive experience of working as sole counsel and as a member of large teams. For example, James has recently appeared in his own right before the Competition Appeal Tribunal, the High Court and various County Courts, and James is currently instructed as part of teams in high profile commercial and competition disputes including two of the Legal 500 and Legal Business’ cases of the year 2024.

James Palmer

Common law: product liability, personal injury, professional negligence, health and safety, consumer credit and general insurance. Employment law: wrongful and unfair dismissal, discrimination, TUPE and whistleblowing claims, directors’ duties, restraint of trade, non-solicitation and injunctive relief. General commercial: contractual and shareholders disputes, property insurance risks and company directors disqualification. Reported cases include: Gardner v Marsh & Parsons [1997] 1 WLR 489 (CA), measure of damages – surveyor’s negligence; Banco Exterior v Mann [1995] 1 All ER (CA), undue influence – bank entitled to assume company solicitor would give independent advice to wife; Allen & Others v BREL CA [2001] PIQR QIO, personal injury – apportionment of damages between concurrent negligent and non-negligent causes.

James Purnell

Barrister specialising in commercial and public law, with expertise in group actions, product liability, health and safety, personal injury, environment, inquests and employment.

James Williams

Employment (including leading Court of Appeal case on “worker” status – Westwood v HMG [2012]) IRLR 834, as junior to Patrick Green QC, and a major ECJ decision on holiday pay – King v Sash Window Workshop C-214/16 [2018] ICR 693); product liability and group actions (including recently in the Seroxat Litigation, the British Coal Coke Oven Workers Litigation and the Volkswagen Vehicle Emissions Litigation); general commercial and company law (including important case on restraining internet publication of confidential material - AMP v Persons Unknown [2011] EWHC 3454 (TCC)); common law work including inquests, industrial disease and workplace H&S.

John Ratliff

John specialises in EU Competition law, offering advice on all types of issue and advocacy in European Commission proceedings. He has 40 years’ legal experience, having studied or worked in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and France. John has practised in Brussels since 1986. For 13 years, with a leading EU boutique, Stanbrook and Hooper. Then, for 23 years with what is now WilmerHale, a leading American firm, from which he retired in December 2022. He has dealt with a wide range of competition issues, including: (i) advising companies on compliance issues (e.g., Articles 101 and 102 TFEU); (ii) handling clearance procedures for mergers and acquisitions at the European Commission (EC), including complex ‘Phase 1’ and ‘Phase 2’ clearances with remedies; (iii) opposing mergers and acquisitions, where third parties are prejudiced; (iv) bringing complaints to the EC about anti-competitive practices to obtain remedies; (v) defending companies accused of infringing the EU Competition rules. He has also assisted companies and their counsel on other EU regulatory issues, notably advice and investigations as regards energy market manipulation and REMIT.

Jonathan Steinert

Barrister dealing with property and commercial law: options, mortgages, sale of land, easements, boundary disputes, co-ownership, undue influence, nuisance, trespass, adverse possession, enforcement of covenants; landlord and tenant: disputes over commercial and residential leases, forfeiture, 1954 Act renewals, rent review, dilapidations, enfranchisement; professional negligence: claims against valuers, solicitors, insurance brokers, licensed conveyancers, surveyors, accountants, financial advisers, planners, architects and engineers; commercial law, company acquisitions (lending, contractual claims, guarantee claims, domestic and international sale of goods, consumer and partnership); other areas of practice include telecoms, information technology, product liability, construction, franchising, company, consumer credit, insurance, insolvency, probate and registration under the Care Standards Act; in addition, has particular expertise in the commercial and property aspects of the leisure industry, and in franchising disputes; noteworthy cases include: Salman v Salman [2010] EWHC 1315 (Ch) – probate, due execution, attestation, forgery; Lambe v Saunders, LTL 14/12/09 (Blake J) – planners’ professional negligence; Wellington Pub Co v Hancock [2009] 48 EG 108 – enforcement of guarantees under the judgement regulation; Rouf v Cafe Rouge [2009] All ER (D) 29 – concerning the effect of multiple disclaimers; Clarkson v Credit Agricole [2008] EWHC 41 (QB) – as to the enforcement of European mortgage debts; Anderson Antiques (UK) Ltd v Anderson Wharf (Hull) Ltd and others [2007] EWHC 2086 (Ch) – exploring statutory tort under the Land Registration Act; Carnegie v Elsword and Giessen and Others [2005] EWCA 191 [2005] ALL E RD 22 – upholding the validity of a charging order and real property denominated in a foreign currency; Stotardt v Selkent [2003] All ER (D) 315 – automatism as a defence in tort; In Re a Debtor (No 503 SD 2001) reconsideration of the law as to the substantial invalidity of statutory demands; Thames Water Facilities Plc v Snowcrest Ltd (unreported) 4 November 1999 (CA), successful appeal against refusal at first instance to strike out part of claim on the ground of abuse of process following six months’ delay in its prosecution; Ayelsbond Estates Ltd v MacMillan & Garg (No1) 32 HLR 1 (CA), the jurisdiction of the Land Valuation Tribunal; Chase Property (UK) Ltd v Barton 27 February 1996 (QBD), relief from forfeiture and waiver; Prudential Property Services Limited v Capital Land Holdings Ltd (1992) 66 P & CR 398, rent review.

Julia Smith

Specialist practice areas: banking and finance and consumer law, including consumer credit, mortgages, sale and supply of goods, unfair contract terms and unfair commercial practices. Cases include: Office of Fair Trading v Ashbourne Management Services Limited [EWHC] 1237 (Ch), [2011] All E R (D) 276 (May) – unfair terms and unfair commercial practices in relation to gym membership agreements. Sternlight v Barclays Bank plc [2010] EWHC 1865 (QB) – test cases on whether mismatch in credit card agreement between stated APR and stated interest rate renders interest rate inaccurate and agreement unenforceable under the CCA; Adris v The Royal Bank of Scotland plc [2010] EWHC 941 (QB), [2010] 4 Costs LR 598 – non-party costs orders against claimants’ solicitors and a claims management company; Carey v HSBC Bank plc, [2009] EWHC 3417 (QB), [2010] BusLR 1142 – test cases on the true copy requirements, unfair relationships and the burden of proving improper execution under the CCA; McGuffick v The Royal Bank of Scotland plc [2009] EWHC 2386 (Comm), [2010] 1 All E R 634 – test case on whether banks may report unenforceable debts to credit reference agencies; Abbey National Bank Plc v Stringer [2006] EWCA Civ 338, CA – whether express agreement for property to be held on trust for the sole benefit of one of two registered proprietors could be inferred; Office of Fair Trading v Lloyds TSB and others [2004] EWHC 2600 (Comm); [2005] 1 All E R 843 – whether arrangements between card issuers, card networks, merchant acquirers and suppliers are ‘arrangements’ for the purposes of section 12(b) of the CCA; Thew v Cole [2003] EWCA Civ 1828, [2004] RTR 25, CA – whether credit hire agreement was exempt and so not a regulated credit agreement for the purposes of the CCA; Farrell v Sandwell MBC, [2001] EWCA Civ 1107, [2002] RVR 11 – level of compensation payable for the compulsory purchase of property; Royal Bank of Scotland plc v Etridge (No2) [2001] UKHL 44, [2002] 2 AC 773 – undue influence and extent of a solicitor’s duty when advising a third party provider of security; Jarrett v Royal Bank of Scotland Plc [1999] QB 1, CA – jurisdiction of UK courts to hear a claim under section 75 of the CCA where credit was provided to finance a timeshare in foreign property; First National Bank plc v Syed [1991] 2 All ER 250, CA – discretion to make a time-order under section 129 of the CCA.

Kate Gardiner

Kate has a broad commercial practice, with a particular interest in product liability, insurance, and consumer finance, as well as in environmental law. She acts for claimants and defendants in both individual and group claims. Prior to pupillage, Kate undertook an internship at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and was a volunteer representative in early-stage employment disputes for CAIWU.

Kathleen Donnelly KC

Kathleen specialises in group actions, product liability, commercial, environment and employment law. Kathleen has acted in some of the largest and most significant class actions in the English Courts. She acted for the 555 subpostmasters against the Post Office in civil litigation concerning the operation of the Horizon IT system, resulting in the unravelling of the largest miscarriage of justice in UK history. She also acted for VW in the first vehicle emissions group action, and continues to act in the ongoing wider emissions litigation. Kathleen also acts for NEXT in the equal pay litigation concerning the effect of market forces on pay. Kathleen has broad commercial litigation experience, including in the high profile aviation dispute between Qatar Airways v Airbus, and has experience of large scale environmental claims including the OCENSA pipeline litigation. She also continues her longstanding employment practice, with a focus on employee competition cases, both in the courts and by international arbitration.

Kenneth Hamer

Barrister specialising in contract and business law; professional negligence (legal and medical practitioners, accountants, architects and valuers); insurance; personal injury (including disaster claims and advising in relation to the Watford, Southall and Ladbroke Grove train crashes); tribunal and disciplinary work (medical, accountancy and financial services); environmental law; general Chancery work; and judicial review; has wide experience in most areas of common law work; counsel at the Southall and Ladbroke Grove Rail Accident Inquiries for the passenger group funded by the HSE and DETR; representing passengers interests on the crucial issue of the regulatory framework of the rail industry and the establishment of better management system.

Lawrence West KC

Barrister specialising in environmental; personal injury; medical negligence; product liability; commercial; other areas of practice include professional negligence; and insurance; was a member of the team that handled all of the defence work for the Canadian Medical Protection Association in Ontario; regularly advises water undertakers, industrial concerns and others on environmental matters and has extensive experience in product liability cases including those involving food products; agrochemicals; petrochemicals; pharmaceuticals and other medical products; electrical equipment; and exposure to contaminants; cases include: Hughes v McKeown [1985] 1 WLR 963, damages – loss of earnings – future earnings; Thake v Maurice [1985] 2 WLR 215, public policy – damages – birth of child following vasectomy; Thake v Maurice [1986] 2 WLR 337, medical practitioner – contract – operation; Stubbings v Webb [1993] AC 498, limitation of action – personal injuries – power to override time limit; Cambridge Water Co v Eastern Counties Leather Plc [1994] 2 AC 264, Rylands v Fletcher – chemical solvent – pollution of underground water supply; Merchant Retail Group Plc v Northumberland County Council – local authority’s liability for flooding; Chappell v Imperial Design Ltd [2002] All ER (D) 1619 – contributory negligence of an infant; Joint Replacement Instrumentation Ltd Ceramtec AG [2001] All ER (D) 194 – jurisdiction of the English courts, contract; Howarth v Green [2001] All ER (D) – personal injury, negligent stage hypnotist; Afzal v Chubb Guarding Services [2002] All ER (D) 369 – defence against fraudulent personal injury claim; Donoghue v Folkestone Properties [2003] All ER (D) 382, leading authority on the Occupiers Liability Act 1984; Warrilow v Norfolk and Norwich University NHS Trust [2006] – clinical negligence; Hazelwood v Teignbridge BC [2006] – local authority liability for flooding; United Utilities v Environment Agency [2006] – applicability of the Pollution Prevention and Control (England and Wales) Regulations to sewerage undertakers; Mesothelioma Trigger Litigation [2008] and [2010] – liability of employers liability insurers for mesothelioma claims; PIP litigation – group action arising out of breast implants; Johnson Lafouric- failed cosmetic surgery claim.

Lia Moses

In recent years, Lia’s practice has focused on consumer law primarily in the context of mass claims and group actions. She is currently instructed in several sets of mass claims involving consumer credit and consumer contract law. Many of these claims involve allegations of (i) defective products (ranging from sofas to medical devices), (ii) the mis-selling of products (ranging from credit and insurance products to solar panels and timeshares), (iii) connected lender liability (i.e. under sections 56 and 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974), (iv) unfairness under section 140A of the 1974 Act, and/or (v) prohibited practices under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. She is also currently instructed by the Defendants in the Mercedes Benz NOx Emissions Litigation. Employment law is another area of Lia’s practice. She represents both employers and employees in a range of employment disputes. Lia also has experience in personal injury, public law, property and insolvency matters. The breadth of her experience (and its focus on court work) means that she is an experienced advocate able to deliver an effective and comprehensive service to her clients which draws on her experience of multiple practice areas and of all stages of the dispute resolution process (from pre-issue and interim hearings, through to trial and enforcement). In 2018, Lia undertook a six-month placement as a Judicial Assistant in the Commercial Court. She gained valuable experience of complex commercial trials, the full range of applications (e.g. jurisdictional disputes, freezing orders, search orders and disclosure) and an insight into the inner workings of the Court. Lia also has experience of appellate work, having undertaken a similar placement in the Court of Appeal before starting pupillage. Before her placement at the Court of Appeal, Lia worked as a Research Assistant in the Commercial and Common Law team at the Law Commission. She also worked for three years at LawWorks, developing and managing a national pro bono advice project.

Lucy McCormick

Commercial barrister with a particular emphasis on product liability and related areas. Much of her practice concerns mass torts and group actions. Lucy is particularly well known for her expertise in matters with a technology element. She has co-authored or contributed to The Law of Artificial Intelligence (Sweet & Maxwell 2021 & 2024), The Law and Autonomous Vehicles (Routledge 2019), and An Introduction to Technology Law (Lexis Nexis 2018).

Malcolm Sheehan KC

Commercial and common law practice concentrating on product liability, group actions, property, arbitration and insurance, personal injury and health and safety. Product liability experience includes acting for defendants in leading multi-party and individual claims relating to pharmaceutical products, medical devices and motor vehicles. Malcolm's Property expertise includes commercial and residential landlord and tenant, covenants, dilapidations and public law property claims. His personal injury practice includes international tort claims, employer liability claims and sporting accidents. Malcolm's reported cases include Young v Home Office, the Seroxat Group Litigation and Rogers v Hoyle. He is experienced in health and safety and environmental criminal and civil litigation.

Nazeer Chowdhury

Nazeer Chowdhury has developed a broad practice in consumer credit and financial services law, advising and representing both finance houses and consumers in complex financial disputes. His experience in contract law ranges from claims under the Sale of Goods Act 1979, the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982, UCTA 1977, Unfair Terms in Consumer Contract Regulations 1999 to complex disputes under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. He was seconded to the Financial Services Authority in 2005 to assist in numerous matters arising out of the operation of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, secondary financial services legislation and in particular the FSA handbook. Among other things, he has advised the Financial Services Authority on the application of the Insurance Directives to the reinsurance sector. He regularly acts for local authorities in a broad variety of tortious and contractual claims, including matters arising from landlord and tenant (residential and business) and property law.

Noel Dilworth

Barrister specialising in employment; landlord and tenant; health and safety; product liability.

Ognjen Miletic

Ognjen’s practice has an emphasis on commercial work, group litigation and jurisdictional disputes. He also focuses on product liability, particularly where it intersects with these areas of specialism. Ognjen is ranked by Legal 500 as a Leading Junior (Band 2) in Group Litigation. He is also ranked by Chambers and Partners as a Leader in the Field in Group Litigation and in Band 5 for Commercial Dispute Resolution. Ognjen was instructed as junior counsel for the Claimants in the long-running Post Office Group Litigation. Arising from a scandal frequently described as “the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK history”, Ognjen was part of the successful team that secured multiple judgments in its favour on important legal issues. These judgments have also been imperative in the overturning of more than 90 criminal convictions. Ognjen is instructed in multiple group actions arising from ‘emissions’ claims against different vehicle manufacturers. Outside of a purely domestic context, he has been instructed in many cases that have been brought in the UK by groups of claimants from all over the world. These cases are often founded on alleged international mass torts, and include the landmark decisions of the Supreme Court in Lungowe v Vedanta and the Court of Appeal in AAA v Unilever. In terms of his commercial work, he is currently instructed in Commercial Court litigation arising as a result of a BIT Arbitration Award made against the Czech Republic in the sum of c.£560m.

Oliver Campbell KC

Oliver specialises in health and safety, product liability, environmental and regulatory claims. For the last decade he has been engaged in many of the most significant cases in those fields including: the Mercedes group litigation; the VW emissions group litigation; the Grenfell Inquiry; the Marks & Spencer asbestos prosecution; the OCENSA Pipeline group litigation; the Network Rail and Sellafield sentencing appeals; the 'metal on metal hip' group litigation; the Google 'Safari Workaround' litigation; the prosecution arising out of the Hatfield train crash; and the British Cycling prosecution. He has particular experience of serious regulatory prosecutions, group actions and inquiries. He sits as a Recorder in the Crown Court.

Patrick Green KC

Specialist in commercial law, employment law, public law/judicial review and ADR. Recent appeal cases of interest include: Hertfordshire CC v LB Hammersmith v Fulham [2011] EWCA Civ 77 (mental health – local authority liability for after-care); Jones v Neath Port Talbot CBC [2011] EWCA Civ 92 (liability of Local Education Authorities); and Shanks v Unilever [2010] EWCA Civ 1283 (employee patent compensation); Autoclenz v Belcher [2009] EWCA Civ 1046 (leading case on employee and worker status, going to the Supreme Court); and Neary v St Albans Girls’ School [2009] EWCA Civ 1190 (striking out and relief from sanctions); Masdar v The Commission, [2008] EUECJ C-47/07 ECJ (non-contractual liability of Community institutions). He is co-author (with Adam Heppinstall of Henderson Chambers) of The Manual of Employment Appeals (Jordans: December 2008), which was favourably cited by Mummery LJ in Woodhouse School v Webster [2009] EWCA Civ 91 and which is shortly to go into its 2nd edition. He is often instructed in novel or high-profile cases.

Peter Susman KC

Barrister specialising in complex contract litigation, with particular experience of acting in contractual disputes about bespoke or customised computer systems and website designs; construction and engineering disputes; commercial litigation in both the Queen’s Bench and Chancery Divisions of the High Court, including interim and final remedies for breach of contract; the interpretation and drafting of commercial contracts, and insurance, public procurement, company law, employment and other issues arising in relation to commercial transactions and disputes; product liability, consumer and other financing contracts; professional negligence claims, including those against accountants, architects, solicitors, surgeons and surveyors; broadcasting and telecommunications law; and other litigation involving technology, more than one area of law, complicated issues or facts, or other difficulties.

Prashant Popat KC

In the field of product liability his substantial group action experience encompasses litigation concerning: the NOx Emissions issue; Covid-19 vaccine; metal-on-metal hip implants; PIP breast implants; Benzodiazepines; Norplant; blood transfusions; MMR; Sabril; and Seroxat. His commercial product liability practice includes litigation and arbitrations concerning products ranging from gastric bands to fuses and fire appliances to helicopters to motor vehicles. He has been involved in leading reported cases in this field, including appellate and CJEU decisions. Over 3 decades he has also represented defendants in major manslaughter and health and safety cases (and associated inquiries and inquests) arising from incidents such as the railway disasters at Southall, Ladbroke Grove, Hatfield, Potters Bar and Lambrigg, the explosion at the Buncefield oil depot, the Pembrokeshire Oil Refinery, the Atherstone upon Stour fire and the Glesion Mine flooding and the helicopter crash at the Leicester City FC ground. He represents interested persons in connection with ongoing investigations, including the Didcot power station collapse, the Grenfell fire, the Covid Inquiry and the Cranston Inquiry. He has previously been nominated for, and twice recognised as, the Chambers UK “Health and Safety Silk of the Year” and also awarded the Legal 500 award for “Corporate Crime” silk of the year.

Rachel Tandy

Rachel has a commercial and common law practice, with an emphasis on commercial litigation, product liability and health and safety. She regularly appears in court, at both trial and appellate level, and is equally at home working as sole counsel or as a member of a larger team. Recent instructions include: representing multiple defendants in a conspiracy claim arising out of joint venture arrangements brought by the Libyan Investment Authority; acting for one of the biggest Claimant groups in the Volkswagen Emissions Litigation; advising in the early stages of a high value ad hoc arbitration relating to the collapse of a partnership; and acting for a litigation funder in a complex commercial conspiracy claim proceeding in the Supreme Court in Gibraltar. Rachel also has an interest in vexatious & abusive litigation and fraud across all areas of her practice. She has recently been commissioned by OUP to author a new book on abuse of process in the civil courts.

Reanne MacKenzie

Barrister

Richard Mawrey KC

Advocate and legal scholar of over 50 years’ experience who undertakes a very wide range of work at the highest levels; major areas of practice include commercial law; company law; insurance law; shipping (both litigation and arbitration); all aspects of the law relating to computer hardware and software; credit and leasing (litigation, advisory work and commercial drafting for most of the major finance houses); financial services (acting for banks and drafting banking legislation); local authority law (acting for many local authorities including most of the London boroughs in respect of local government finance, competitive tendering and public procurement, planning, traffic control, local authority contracts and employment; and advising Passenger Transport Executives on questions such as financing of development, competitive tendering, privatisation, redundancy schemes, bus companies and the like); human rights; reported cases include: Stubbings v Webb [1993] 2 WLR 120, limitation of action; St Albans City and District Council v International Computers Limited [1996] 4 All ER 481, computer – whether computer software ‘goods’ within meaning of Sale of Goods Act 1979 and Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 – measure of damages for breach of contract/unfair contract terms; Finnegan v Parkside Health Authority [1998] 1 WLR 411, practice – dismissal of action for want of prosecution – notice of appeal out of time; Royal Bank of Scotland v Etridge (No 2) [2001] UKHL 44, equity �� presumption and constructive notice of undue influence – husband and wife – bank charge over matrimonial home – wife receiving legal advice before entering into transaction – principles to be applied in determining whether provision of legal advice rebuts presumption of undue influence and whether bank put on inquiry to ascertain whether wife acted under husband’s undue influence; Foskett v McKeown HL [2001] 1 AC 102 – tracing money applied in breach of trust. Delaware Mansions Ltd v Westminster CC [2001] UKHL 55 – nuisance – title to sue – measure of damages; Southern Pacific Securities v Walker [2010] UKSC 32 Consumer Credit Act 1976- definition of ‘credit’ and ‘charge for credit.’

Thomas Mallon

Thom has a broad practice that includes commercial, finance and insurance, group actions, product liability, data protection, health and safety, and intellectual property.

Thomas Samuels

Thom’s practice concentrates on consumer, financial services and commercial matters. He regularly appears, both led and unled, at all levels of Court dealing with a range of specialist technical issues. In particular, those arising under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, Consumer Credit Act 1974 and Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. His clients include: national and international retailers across a range of sectors, banks, insurers, pensions providers, start-ups, local authorities, charities and regulators, as well as high net-worth individuals. Thom has been instructed in relation to all of the major consumer “mis-selling” scandals of the past 10 years including payment protection insurance (PPI), green energy/solar panels (ESG), self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs) and timeshares/holiday products. He has also been retained in a number of high-profile judicial review claims giving rise to consumer and financial services issues on behalf of both claimants and defendants. In addition, Thom maintains a non-contentious advisory practice. He regularly advises on points of technical regulatory compliance for start-ups (including fintechs) and blue chip corporates launching new products. Thom is also frequently instructed to assist with due diligence in high-value debt-sale and securitisation transactions. Notable work includes: Beavis v Parking Eye Limited [2016] AC 1172 (penalties/unfair terms), Berkeley Burke litigation [2017–19] (SIPP mis-selling), Jackson v Ayles [2021] EWHC 995 (Ch) (FSMA “by way of business” test), R (Chadwin & Ors) v Financial Services Compensation Scheme [2021] EWHC 2523 (Admin) (causation on judicial review), and Stamp v Capital Home Loans Ltd [2024] EWHC 1092 (KB) (abuse of process/strike out). Publications Mis-Selling Financial Services (2nd ed.) (co-author); Encyclopedia of Banking Law (contributor); Consumer Credit Law & Regulation (2024); White Book 2024 (contributor)

Thomas Evans

Thomas has a broad commercial practice. He is ranked in Tier 1 for Group Litigation (Legal 500) and in Band 3 for both Product Liability and Group Litigation (Chambers UK), and is a member of the Attorney General’s Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown. Thomas’ ongoing and recent cases include: Qatar Airways v Airbus (commercial dispute concerning the A350 aircraft); Novitas Loans v AmTrust Europe (£55m claim arising out of a failed litigation funding scheme); the VW NOx Emissions Group Litigation Nos. 1 and 2 (now part of the Pan NOx Litigation, and instructed by Volkswagen); and Minol v FireAngel (commercial dispute concerning fire detection apparatus). He has also recently acted in high value cases concerning agricultural machinery, maritime vessels and plant equipment. Thomas has a particular expertise in costs and litigation funding, including in the context of group litigation (in respect of which he is authoring the costs and funding chapters of the latest edition of Hodges on Multi-party Actions). Allied to this, Thomas has a particular depth of experience in consumer protection matters arising out of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (both regulatory and contentious). He has contributed to the Journal of International banking and Finance Law.

Tim Green KC

Tim Green has been recognised by both Chambers UK and Legal 500 for 13 years as one of the Bar’s outstanding advocates in regulatory crime and corporate defence work. His practice includes investigations into companies and their officers arising from: (1) death or severe injury at work; (2) inquests and inquiries; (3) complex and high value financial wrongdoing. Clients include most of the ranked law firms in these fields, as well as multi-national manufacturers, financial institutions, company officers, off-shore regulators and governments.

Toby Riley-Smith KC

He is a leading silk in the fields of (1) consumer law, (2) environmental law, (3) health and safety, (4) inquests/inquiries and (5) product liability. He acts for organisations and individuals in claims, prosecutions, mediations, public inquiries and/or inquests �� often representing clients in all of the different processes that follow product failures, accidents or disasters. He has particular expertise in group litigation, having acted in some of the most significant group actions of the last two decades including The Tobacco Litigation, The MMR Vaccine Litigation, The PIP Breast Implant Litigation, The Bodo Oil Pipeline Litigation, The Corin Metal-on-Metal Hip Litigation, The Vaginal Mesch Litigation, the Essure Litigation and the Pan Nox Diesel Emissions Litigation.

Vishnu Patel

Vishnu has a broad commercial practice, with a particular interest in civil fraud, banking and financial services, and insolvency. He acts for claimants and defendants in both individual and group claims, accepting instructions as both junior and sole counsel. Prior to pupillage, Vishnu was a Harold G. Fox Scholar (Middle Temple), for which he spent 10 months in Toronto, Canada, at a leading litigation firm working across the full spectrum of commercial disputes. He then undertook a placement at a UK-based litigation boutique working on multiple group actions.

Weishi Yang

Weishi focuses on commercial, insolvency, product liability, consumer finance, and property law, and accepts instructions as sole and junior counsel. She acts for claimants and defendants in both individual and group claims. Before joining chambers, Weishi completed pupillage at a leading commercial set. Prior to pupillage, she was the main research assistant on the Electronic Trade Documents project in the Law Commission of England and Wales. She also worked as a casework volunteer at Advocate.

William Moody

Barrister

William Hibbert

Specialist in commercial aspects of consumer-facing finance and financial services (including consumer credit, mortgages and banking) and consumer protection law (including unfair contract terms, unfair commercial practices, advertising, package holidays and timeshare). Also food law, food labelling, cosmetics and medicines. Reported cases include: Popely v Scott (2001) 165 JP 742 - reliance on legal advice as due diligence; Director General of Fair Trading v First National Bank plc [2002] 1 AC 481 – analysis of Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations; Wilson v First County Trust Ltd (No 2) [2002] QB 74 (CA), [2004] 1 AC 816 (HL) - whether irredeemable unenforceability under Consumer Credit Act compatible with Human Rights Act; Uren v First National Home Finance Ltd [2005] EWHC 2529 (Ch) (Times 17th November 2005) - no free-standing claim of “unjust enrichment”; Goshawk Dedicated (No 2) Ltd v Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland [2006] 2 AER 610 - wording of prescribed notices of cancellation rights under Consumer Credit Act; Office of Fair Trading v Lloyds TSB Bank Ltd [2005] 1 AER 843 (QBD Comm), [2006] 2 AER 821 (CA), [2008] 1 AC 318 (HL) - lender's liability under s.75 Consumer Credit Act for credit card transactions financing foreign transactions; Conister Trust Ltd v John Hardman & Co [2009] CCLR 4 and Sutherland Professional Funding Ltd v Bakewells [2014] CTLC 1- solicitor's liability for client's litigation funding agreement that was unenforceable under the Consumer Credit Act; Meah v GE Money Home Finance Ltd [2013] 1 P&CR DG 18 - mortgagee's liability in respect of valuation of repossessed property; RTA (Business Consultants) Ltd v Bracewell [2015] Bus LR 800 - sole trader selling his business not a “consumer”, but sale agent’s contract void for illegality because of non-compliance with money laundering regulations; Warwickshire CC v Halfords Autocentres Ltd [2019] 1 W.L.R. 3597 - Trading Standards Officer’s test purchase can establish unfair commercial practice in relation to supplies to consumers..

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