Gough Square Chambers > London, England > Set Profile
Gough Square Chambers Offices
Gough Square Chambers
6-7 GOUGH SQUARE
LONDON
EC4A 3DE
England
Gough Square Chambers > The Legal 500 Rankings
London Bar > Consumer Tier 1
Gough Square Chambers is ‘a premier chambers for consumer law work‘. Jonathan Kirk KC is ‘a top-class silk‘ and David Travers KC is ‘an outstanding lawyer‘. Recent instructions for the team include Iain MacDonald acting as co-counsel in Soleymani v Nifty Gateway LLC, involving a challenge to the enforceability of the sale of NFT artwork by auction. The claim involved issues arising from conflict of laws and the applicability of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 to the transaction, as well as jurisdictional issues. Simon Popplewell is sought after for his expertise in advising on all aspects of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Stuart Jessop joined the team in July 2023.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
‘Jack Bradshaw is excellent – a real gem.’
‘Bob Weekes, Richard Bryant and Jack Bradshaw are very helpful.’
‘Jack Bradshaw is extremely easy to deal with. He is very efficient.’
‘The clerks’ room, well-led by Bob Weekes, is professional, responsive and knowledgeable.’
‘Chambers’ expertise in this area is beyond compare.’
‘Gough Square Chambers cannot be matched for consumer work. A long-term leader in the field. Quality throughout the set.’
‘Gough Square Chambers is the leading set for consumer work.’
‘The clerks are fantastic and provide a brilliant client focused service.’
London Bar > Financial services regulation Tier 2
Gough Square Chambers consistently act for many of the UK’s major banks and government bodies across the gamut of contentious and non-contentious regulatory areas, with the chambers having a particular strength in the regulation of retail products. Jonathan Kirk KC acted for Diamond Resorts and Club La Costa in consumer credit litigation concerning the mis-selling of timeshare as an investment, with the High Court dismissing claims for judicial review in May 2023. Stephen Neville continues to be an authority on compliance issues, recently advising Masthaven Bank on its withdrawal from the UK mortgage market and the sale of its almost £500m portfolio. Simon Popplewell brings an abundance of experience appearing before the FCA’s Regulatory Decisions Committee and regularly advises on the FCA perimeter and the boundaries in which parliament limits the regulator to act.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
‘The clerks are fantastic and provide a brilliant client focused service, often working to tight deadlines, and ably handle competing demands and deadlines. We have dealt with Richard Bryant, Bob Weekes and Jack Bradshaw.’
‘Bob Weekes is superb and a pleasure to deal with – he has a great knowledge of counsel’s expertise.’
‘We always receive great service from Gough Square.’
‘An annual consumer law conference is a real treat and the clerking team are fantastic.’
‘Gough Square Chambers is our go-to set, they have fantastic strength in depth.’
London Bar > Banking and finance (including consumer credit) Tier 3
‘Strong in advising on regulatory law,’ Gough Square Chambers has a particular focus on this space on retail products, acting for most of the UK’s major banks, alongside receiving instructions from government bodies including HM Treasury and the FCA. Iain MacDonald has a broad banking and financial services practice, with a focus on retail banking, while Simon Popplewell has dealt with numerous cases before the FCA Regulatory Decisions Committee and other major, including Various SAM Borrowers v Bank of Scotland, with Simon acting for the bank in respect of a challenge to shared appreciation mortgages, where the amount to repay is linked to the price of the property at the time of redemption. The challenges were made on the basis of the unfair relationship provisions in the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Anna Medvinskaia  is a notable junior in the team.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
‘The clerking team is outstanding and go above and beyond to assist, particularly with the availability of counsel. Jack Bradshaw and Richard Bryant, have always come back to me extremely quickly with options for counsel and fee quotes whenever I have needed them and are always very personable and cheery on the phone!’
‘The set is strong in advising on regulatory law, with multiple counsel at different levels of seniority, meaning that there is usually someone available to assist urgently.’
‘Gough Square have an excellent team of financial services counsel, who are always willing and eager to assist with any instructions sent their way.’
‘Gough Square Chambers are my ‘go to’ for all things Consumer Credit.’
‘Very good set with lots of options for this type of work.’
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Work highlights
London Bar > Environment
Leading Silks
London Bar > Health and safety
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
London Bar > Inquests and inquiries
Leading Silks
London Bar > Local government (including rating law)
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
London Bar > Licensing
Leading Juniors
Gough Square Chambers > Set Profile
This set provides specialist advice and representation in all aspects of consumer, regulatory and finance law and offers expertise in additional areas in the commercial business field.
The set: The set has a progressive approach to its work and aims to provide a friendly and flexible service at competitive rates. Members are responsive to the needs of business and are ready to give advice at short notice as required.
Clients include City, regional and company solicitors acting for banks, building societies, finance houses and other lenders, as well as leading supermarkets, retailers and manufacturers, cosmetics companies, and distributors. Chambers is also happy to accept instructions by direct professional access.
Chambers publishes a free quarterly Trading Law Bulletin detailing recent legal developments (which can be sent to those interested on request) and the Consumer and Trading Law Reports, in six parts per year. Seminars and conferences on consumer law are also given.
Types of work undertaken: Chambers’ expertise in consumer law results in members advising and representing clients in relation to consumer credit, secured lending, timeshare and package holidays, trading schemes and franchising, food safety, trade descriptions, pricing, advertising and marketing, sale and supply contracts, unfair contract terms, weights and measures, data protection, health and safety, environmental pollution, product safety, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
Individual members of chambers also have expertise in a number of other areas, including banking, sale of goods, commercial contracts, company and partnership, landlord and tenant, employment, trusts, pension schemes, insolvency and professional negligence.
Chambers’ consumer work spans the full range of both the civil and criminal tribunals. Whilst chambers handles the day-to-day litigation encountered in these areas of law, it is also involved in advising business clients more specifically, including due diligence on acquisitions, how to conduct their business so that they can obtain and keep any necessary licences, how to ensure the enforceability of contracts, and how to avoid or handle the attention of regulatory authorities (such as environmental health officers, trading standards departments and the Financial Conduct Authority). For example, chambers has particular experience appearing in consumer credit licensing matters. This consumer work can also involve advising clients on the drafting of consumer contracts, notices, policy documents, procedure manuals and advising whether or not advertising and sales techniques are legitimate.
Members of chambers also regularly act for and advise central and local government enforcement agencies.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Senior clerk | Bob Weekes | ||
Members of Chambers | DE HAAN KC, Kevin (1976) (2000) | ||
Members of Chambers | TRAVERS KC, David (1981) (2010) | ||
Members of Chambers | KIRK KC, Jonathan (1995) (2010) | ||
Members of Chambers | PHILPOTT, Fred (1974) | ||
Members of Chambers | SAYER, Peter (1975)* | ||
Members of Chambers | ANDREWS, Claire (1979) | ||
Members of Chambers | HAYES, Josephine (1980) | ||
Members of Chambers | BARNETT, Jeremy (1980) | ||
Members of Chambers | GOULDING, Jonathan (1984) | ||
Members of Chambers | NEVILLE, Stephen (1986) | ||
Members of Chambers | GUN CUNINGHAME, Julian (1989) | ||
Members of Chambers | SAY, Bradley (1993) | ||
Members of Chambers | CLEGG, Sebastian (1994) | ||
Members of Chambers | SPICER, Jo (1995) | ||
Members of Chambers | MACDONALD, Iain (1996) | ||
Members of Chambers | POPPLEWELL, Simon (2000) | ||
Members of Chambers | CROWE, Cameron (2002) | ||
Members of Chambers | URELL, Kate (2002) | ||
Members of Chambers | REYNOLDS, Lee (2002) | ||
Members of Chambers | GREENWOOD, Alex (2002) | ||
Members of Chambers | HOWELLS, Prof Geraint (2002)* | ||
Members of Chambers | LAMBERT, Alison (2005) | ||
Members of Chambers | ROSS, James (2006) | ||
Members of Chambers | BALA, Ruth (2006) | ||
Members of Chambers | ROBERTS, Richard (2006) | ||
Members of Chambers | MEDVINSKAIA, Anna (2008) | ||
Members of Chambers | PHILLIPS, Laura (2009) | ||
Members of Chambers | FINCH, Lee (2010) | ||
Members of Chambers | BRAYLEY, Daniel (2011) | ||
Members of Chambers | COLEY, Michael (2011) | ||
Members of Chambers | HOLLIS, Alison (2012) | ||
Members of Chambers | KINGHAM, Robin (2013) | ||
Members of Chambers | GOODCHILD, Sabrina (2017) | ||
Members of Chambers | LEWIN (MBE), Brian* | ||
Members of Chambers | SPENCE-JONES, George (2017) | ||
Members of Chambers | O'NEIL, Ann-Marie (2020) | ||
* Non-practising door tenants |
Barrister Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Claire Andrews | Barrister and ADR practitioner specialising in consumer and regulatory law with a… | View Profile | |
Daniel Brayley | Daniel accepts instructions for advisory, drafting and court work in all of… | View Profile | |
Michael Coley | View Profile | ||
Cameron Crowe | Cameron specialises in regulatory law with an emphasis on consumer law, associated… | View Profile | |
Lee Finch | Barrister specialising in financial services, consumer and regulatory law. Lee has specific… | View Profile | |
Sabrina Goodchild | Barrister specialising in financial services, general regulatory/consumer law and regulatory crime. Contributing editor… | View Profile | |
Jonathan Goulding | View Profile | ||
Julian Gun Cuninghame | Barrister specialising in banking, consumer credit, property, professional negligence and disciplinary; employment. Julian acts… | View Profile | |
Josephine Hayes | Barrister specialising in property litigation and general Chancery. Represents and advises both… | View Profile | |
Alison Hollis | View Profile | ||
Mr Stuart Jessop | Stuart is a specialist regulatory and public law barrister. He is well-known… | View Profile | |
Robin Kingham | Specialist regulatory barrister with particular experience of Consumer and Trading Standards Law… | View Profile | |
Jonathan Kirk | View Profile | ||
Alison Lambert | View Profile | ||
Iain MacDonald | View Profile | ||
Anna Medvinskaia | Anna practises in all areas of consumer and regulatory law. | View Profile | |
Stephen Neville | Stephen Neville has specialised in Financial Services Law for over 25 years.He… | View Profile | |
Ann-Marie O'Neil | View Profile | ||
Ms Laura Phillips | Laura Phillips (2009) is a specialist regulatory lawyer with a particular interest… | View Profile | |
Fred Philpott | View Profile | ||
Simon Popplewell | Barrister specialising in consumer credit, financial services, consumer and regulatory law. | View Profile | |
James Ross | Barrister specialising in financial services, consumer credit, consumer and regulatory law. James… | View Profile | |
Mr Bradley Say | Barrister specialising in consumer and regulatory law with a bias towards consumer… | View Profile | |
George Spence-Jones | View Profile | ||
Mr David Travers | Regulatory law (including regulatory crime), public law and associated areas including corporate… | View Profile | |
Mr David Travers | Regulatory law (including regulatory crime), public law and associated areas including corporate… | View Profile | |
Kate Urell | Barrister specialising in consumer and regulatory law, in particular financial services. | View Profile | |
Kevin de Haan | View Profile |