David Head KC
‘David is an excellent advocate. He has a manner that judges love and can distil the most complex issues into the most simple concepts that seem completely obvious.’
With ‘quality from top to bottom’, members of 3 Verulam Buildings handle a wide range of civil fraud matters, from banking fraud and breach of fiduciary duties to bribery and asset tracing. Adrian Beltrami KC is acting for the claimant in Jinxin v Aser Media, a claim of deceit and conspiracy arising from the purchase of a sports media company. In Harrington & Charles Trading Co v Mehta, Ewan McQuater KC heads a counsel team including Ian Wilson KC, Philip Hinks, James McWilliams, and James McWilliams, representing the claimant liquidators, who allege that the defendants fraudulently acquired gold bullion shipments from Indian banks. Various members of the set remain involved in significant cum-ex claims, where the Danish tax authority seeks to recover sums it alleges were lost through unlawfully claimed tax refunds; this includes David Head KC, Christopher Bond, Hannah Glover, and Sophia Dzwig representing the DWF defendant group in SKAT v Solo Capital Partners LLP, and Tom Montagu-Smith KC and Philip Hinks acting for the same claimant in SKAT v Elysium Global (Dubai) Ltd and Elysium Properties Ltd.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Stephen Penson and Stuart Pullum are strong clerks.'
- 'The clerks are great - very commercial and sensible. Head clerk Stuart Pullum is a lovely man.'
- 'James Kelly and Andrew Monks are extremely fair clerks.'
- 'Stuart Pullum is absolutely first rate.'
- 'A top set for banking and finance disputes, civil fraud and international arbitration.'
- 'Excellent chambers. Quality from top to bottom.'
- '3VB are a quality set, through and through.'
- '3VB is an excellent set, mainly in the banking, finance, and financial services fraud world.'
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.
Ali Malek KC
The doyen of civil fraud. He has seen it all, and has a unique ability to present complex cases in a compelling way to judges, who listen to his every word.’
Ewan McQuater KC
Ewan is a real heavyweight, with immense gravitas. He combines impeccable instincts with an enormous amount of experience.'
Andrew Onslow KC
Judges listen to him.'
Adrian Beltrami KC
He is always absolutely charming in his advocacy. He speaks with intelligence and knows his best points.'
Hodge Malek KC
He has tremendous focus combined with in-depth knowledge, and great assurance in his presentation.'
David Quest KC
David is an outstanding technician, who is brilliant at explaining himself in plain words and translating an analysis into commercial advice.'
Andrew Sutcliffe KC
He is incisive, and swift to identify and focus upon the key aspects of a case.'
Peter De Verneuil Smith KC
He knows the law inside out, is clearly very bright, and brings a real rigour to assessing the merits and case strategy.'
Adam Kramer KC
He is a fantastic cross-examiner, and has a forensic style which is extremely effective in fraud cases.'
Hefin Rees KC
Jonathan Davies-Jones KC
He demonstrates poise, style and determination in court.'
Matthew Hardwick KC
A charming and smooth advocate.'
John Jarvis KC
Tom Montagu-Smith KC
His advocacy style is first class and he has a fantastic grasp of detail.'
Matthew Parker KC
'A robust and solutions-focused advocate.'
Rajesh Pillai KC
Rajesh is an extremely fluent and accomplished advocate. He is extremely clear, highly persuasive and quick on his feet.'
2025 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.
William Edwards KC
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.
Philip Hinks
James McWilliams
'James is an exceptional barrister. He's ferociously intelligent, enormously hard working and very dedicated.'
Yash Bheeroo
Christopher Bond
A very smart junior.'
Georges Chalfoun
He inspires absolute confidence in clients - the man you want in your corner.'
William Day
William is absolutely superb - a star of the Bar. A very articulate advocate with a first-rate legal mind.'
Pia Dutton
She is incredibly intelligent and has very sound judgement.'
Charlotte Eborall
Charlotte is extremely impressive and instils huge confidence in her solicitors. She strikes the perfect balance of being incredibly sharp, pragmatic and client friendly.'
Lisa Lacob
She is a shining star in fraud and banking cases.'
Liisa Lahti
James Potts
He is measured under pressure and very intellectually able.'
Emmanuel Sheppard
A responsive and rigorous counsel.'
Rebecca Zaman
She distils complex issues into commercial and pragmatic advice.'
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.
Sophia Dzwig
An impressive junior, who is reliable and incredibly calm.'
Ryan Ferro
Ryan is fantastic. He thinks creatively and finds solutions. His intellect is incredible. No one works harder than he does or is more committed. A real star.'
Ravi Jackson
Ravi is extremely technically adept and hugely hard working. He has a razor-sharp intellect and excellent judgement.'
Clarissa Jones
She is efficient, quick, and very clever.'