Oliver Powell > Chambers of James Counsell KC and Keith Bryant KC > London, England > Barrister Profile
Outer Temple Chambers Offices
Outer Temple Chambers
THE OUTER TEMPLE, 222 STRAND
LONDON
WC2R 1BA
England
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Oliver Powell
Work Department
Business Crime, Regulation and Sanctions, Commercial Litigation, Financial Services, Health, Safety and Environment, Marine and Fisheries, Alternative Dispute Resolution
Position
Barrister specialising in Business Crime, Regulation and Sanctions, Commercial Litigation, Financial Services, Health, Safety and Environment, Marine and Fisheries, and Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Career
“An impressive senior junior well versed in large scale litigation”. Oliver Powell is ranked in both Chambers & Partners (UK) and The Legal 500 (in five practice areas). In 2022, he was nominated for the Legal 500 Corporate Crime Junior of the Year. One solicitor observed: “He has incredibly sound judgment when it comes to the big decisions”. He is praised as “an extremely confident and charming advocate”.
He undertakes instructions that involve the regulation of business activity and commerce. His practice encompasses: asset forfeiture & civil recovery; business crime; civil fraud; corporate investigations; financial services; health, safety & environment; maritime regulatory law; and sanctions & export controls.
Recent or extant work includes:
- Retained to advise a former company officer in respect of the SFO investigation of companies within the Gupta Family Group Alliance, including its financing arrangements with Greensill Capital UK Ltd.
- Retained to advise a well-known fund manager in relation to an FCA investigation.
- Retained to advise a large bank on a number of sanctions related matters.
- Overseas legal expert in a $125m arbitration in Russia.
- Retained to advise on the largest ever financial investigation conducted in the Isle of Man.
- Retained in a £28m professional negligence claim in the Commercial Court.
- Retained to advise and act for Skyjack (UK) Ltd in the inquest touching the death of Lee Pattison.
- Acted for Bombardier in relation to the 2016 Croydon tram derailment.
Oliver is routinely instructed in matters with an international element and usually cases involving allegations of dishonesty, sharp practice or breach of regulations. He is a Barrister of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (BVI), a member of the New York State Bar Association, and in recent years has undertaken work in inter alia: USA, UAE, Greece, Falkland Islands and UK offshore jurisdictions such as the Isle of Man.
Oliver acts for multinational corporations, SMEs and private individuals (usually company officers, UHNWI or HNWI), and is routinely instructed by US and City law firms. His strong interpersonal skills, candid advice and robust advocacy allow him to forge solid working relationships, making him a popular choice with solicitors and clients alike.
Memberships
- Admiralty Bar Group
- Appointed Vice Chairman of British Marine IFLS (2017 to 2021)
- Bar None Mentor
- Commercial Fraud Lawyers Association
- Financial Services Lawyers Association
- Fraud Advisory Panel
- Health & Safety Lawyers’ Association
- New York State Bar Association
- Proceeds of Crime Lawyers’ Association
- Pupil Supervisor (2013 to present)
- Revenue Bar Association
- Social Mobility Foundation Mentor (2010 to present)
- The Fraud Lawyers Association
- Western Circuit
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Proceeds of crime (POCA) and asset forfeiture
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 2London Bar > Health and safety
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 1Oliver Powell –Outer Temple Chambers ‘Oliver is a leader in his field when it comes to maritime regulatory matters. A safe pair of hands and great operator.’
London Bar > Environment
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 4Oliver Powell – Outer Temple Chambers ‘A very committed junior.’
London Bar > Financial services regulation
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 3Outer Temple Chambers ‘have 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.