Michael Uberoi > Chambers of James Counsell KC and Keith Bryant KC > London, England > Barrister Profile

Chambers of James Counsell KC and Keith Bryant KC
Outer Temple Chambers
THE OUTER TEMPLE, 222 STRAND
LONDON
WC2R 1BA
England

Living Wage

Work Department

Pensions and Trusts, Chancery and Commercial, Financial Services, Disciplinary and Regulatory

Position

Barrister specialising in Pensions and Trusts, Chancery and Commercial, Financial Services, Disciplinary and Regulatory.

Career

Called 2004, Middle Temple.

Michael Uberoi practises in commercial and regulatory litigation, with a particular focus upon pensions and financial services. He is recommended as a Leading Junior by the legal directories in both Pensions and Financial Services.

Michael’s ongoing work includes rectification matters, indexation work, professional negligence matters (involving solicitors, actuaries, and administrators), commercial disputes involving allegations of fraud, and regulatory work (for both Defendants, and the Regulators) involving the Pensions Regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Pension Protection Fund, and Lloyd’s of London.

The 2023 legal directories say “Michael is a superstar – he’s got incredible judgement and is very knowledgeable about some of the more difficult areas of pensions” (Pensions, Chambers & Partners, 2023) and that he “knows the subject area inside out” (Pensions, Chambers & Partners, 2023). In Financial Services, he is described as “personable, technically outstanding, and very hard working and responsive” (Financial Services Regulation, Legal 500, Leading Junior). The Directories also describe him as “an exceptional advocate”, who is “very dynamic and bright”.

Michael is a member of COMBAR and the Chancery Bar Association. He is also called to the Bar of Northern Ireland.

Some examples of current or very recent work include:

  • Acting for the professional trustee in litigation involving disputed historic pension increases granted by directors / trustees of a major company scheme in proceedings before the High Court (Fetherston & Ors v Dalriada);
  • Acting for the trustees in the rectification of a scheme arising out of incorrect pension increase rules (Viavi Solutions UK Limited v Viavi Pension Trustee UK Limited [2022] EWHC 2565 (Ch));
  • Acting for the Defendant (a leading underwriter) in enforcement proceedings brought by Lloyd’s of London, in which the regulator requests a lifetime ban and a multi-million pound fine for alleged non-financial misconduct;
  • Acting for the Defendant IFA in proceedings before the Regulatory Decisions Committee of the FCA, arising out of transfers out of the British Steel Pension Scheme;
  • Acting for the successful scheme member in a fully contested oral hearing before the Pensions Ombudsman, in which findings of dishonesty were made against the Respondent professional trustee, as a result of a failure to manage conflicts of interest (PO-22369, re the Allen, Allen & Ms E SSAS pension scheme, publication date December 2022, [2023] 032 PBLR (049));
  • Instructed by the Pensions Regulator in proceedings before the Upper Tribunal in relation to high value breaches of the employer related investments legislation, by a senior trustee.

Memberships

Education

St. Anne’s College, Oxford

Leisure

Golf

Lawyer Rankings

London Bar > Financial services regulation

(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 2

Michael UberoiOuter Temple Chambers 

Outer Temple Chambershave always had a very strong presence in the financial services regulation space’ and are active across all aspects: from early advice related to perimeter guidance breaches; through to advising on investigations brought by the FCA’s enforcement division, and through to representation before the Regulatory Decisions Committee and the Upper Tribunal. Michael Uberoi has acted for the defendant in FCA v Reynolds, an alleged pensions misselling case heard by the Regulatory Decisions Committee in January 2023. Michael Bowes KC, as was, is now a circuit judge. Oliver Powell was instructed under direct access in proceedings before Lloyd’s Enforcement Board, advising and negotiating a settlement in response to a discreditable conduct charge.

London Bar > Professional disciplinary and regulatory law

(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 4

Michael UberoiOuter Temple Chambers

London Bar > Pensions

(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 3

Michael UberoiOuter Temple ChambersHard-working and bright, gaining an excellent reputation.’