Brick Court Chambers

Brick Court Chambers is ‘top tier in relation to sanctions,’ with its members acting for designated individuals, UK government ministries and companies facing sanctions challenges. Maya Lester KC exemplifies this breadth of practice, having appeared for the Foreign Office in Phillips v FCDO, in which a British citizen designated on the grounds of being a pro-Russia propagandist in the Ukrainian War challenged his listing on free speech grounds; she also appeared for Nizar Al-Assaad before the ECJ in his bid to be removed from the Syrian sanctions list. Lester regularly leads Malcolm Birdling, who appeared for the appellant in Shvidler v FCDO, a challenge to the designation of a British-American citizen (who, while, having a track record of business in Russia was never a Russian citizen) whose assets were frozen under the post-Brexit Russia sanctions. Fergus Randolph KC is frequently called upon by companies and regulators looking to navigate the Russian sanctions regime. Commercial disputes where sanctions have prevented the payment of monies owed or halted projects form part of Paul Wright’s practice, which also includes advising law firms on the limitations sanctions place on their ability to advise certain clients.