Blackstone Chambers is a ‘number one set for regulatory disputes work’, offering a broad range of expertise that spans market authorisations and approval, listing rules, market abuse and insider trading, financial promotions, and collective investment schemes. Monica Carss-Frisk KC acted for the claimant in R (Elliott Associates LP) v London Metal Exchange, a judicial review to a decision by the defendant to cancel hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of trades; with an appeal to the Court of Appeal now pending. In FCA v Whitestone and Seiler, Andrew George KC acted for the regulator before the Upper Tribunal in a significant costs application. Daniel Burgess acted as sole counsel for the defendant in FCA v Wealthtek LLP & John Dance, proceedings concerning an £81m shortfall in client funds and an application by the regulator for an interim stay of civil proceedings so it could prioritise its criminal investigation for overlapping conduct.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
- Profile
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Danny Compton is a pleasure to deal with. Practical, reasonable and charming.'
- 'Billy Brian is a smooth operator.'
- 'Blackstone is the preeminent set in this area.'
- 'A great set for financial services work, particularly with a public law angle.'
- 'Blackstone are the go to set for all contentious FCA work. There really is no competition.'
- 'Blackstone has clear strength in depth. The knowledge and experience of some of their juniors is particularly impressive.'
- 'Always well catered for - clerks give time and attention to making sure all aspects of instructing their barristers is managed effectively.'
- 'The clerks are absolutely first rate.'
Lawyers
Leading silks
KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.
Leading juniors
Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.
Rising stars
Rising stars at the Bar are defined as barristers between four and eight years’ call who are seen as up-and-coming members of the Bar in their respective practice areas by clients and peers alike. They will already be instructed in high-profile, complex, and high-value contentious and non-contentious matters, working with and opposite more experienced leading counsel.
