Mr Thomas Samuels > Chambers of Charles Gibson KC > London, England > Barrister Profile

Chambers of Charles Gibson KC
Henderson Chambers
2 HARCOURT BUILDINGS, TEMPLE
LONDON
EC4Y 9DB
England

Position

Thom’s practice concentrates on consumer, financial services and commercial matters. He regularly appears, both led and unled, at all levels of Court dealing with a range of specialist technical issues. In particular, those arising under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, Consumer Credit Act 1974 and Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. His clients include: national and international retailers across a range of sectors, banks, insurers, pensions providers, start-ups, local authorities, charities and regulators, as well as high net-worth individuals. Thom has been instructed in relation to all of the major consumer “mis-selling” scandals of the past 10 years including payment protection insurance (PPI), green energy/solar panels (ESG), self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs) and timeshares/holiday products. He has also been retained in a number of high-profile judicial review claims giving rise to consumer and financial services issues on behalf of both claimants and defendants. In addition, Thom maintains a non-contentious advisory practice. He regularly advises on points of technical regulatory compliance for start-ups (including fintechs) and blue chip corporates launching new products. Thom is also frequently instructed to assist with due diligence in high-value debt-sale and securitisation transactions. Notable work includes: Beavis v Parking Eye Limited [2016] AC 1172 (penalties/unfair terms), Berkeley Burke litigation [2017–19] (SIPP mis-selling), and Jackson v Ayles [2021] EWHC 995 (Ch) (FSMA “by way of business” test).

Publications

Mis-Selling Financial Services (2nd ed.) (co-author); Encyclopedia of Banking Law (contributor)

Career

 Called 2009 (Lincoln’s Inn)

Memberships

Financial Services Lawyers Association; Advocate

Lawyer Rankings

London Bar > Financial services regulation

(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 3

Thomas Samuels – Henderson Chambers

Henderson Chambers is ‘excellent for financial services litigation and regulatory work’, with members being increasingly called upon to advise on matters governed by the FSMA and FCA regulatory regime related to consumer credit legislation and unfair business-to-consumer practices. In Intrum Finance v Baldwin, Toby Riley-Smith KC was instructed by the financier to appear in its appeal concerning if a debt-purchase company requires authorisation from the FCA to engage a third-party debt-recovery agent. Thomas Samuels is advising Google on the financial services aspects of a dispute regarding the right of insolvency practitioners to place search advertisements. Julia Smith continues to advise banks and other businesses on issues arising from the FSMA and FCA notification requirements.

London Bar > Banking and finance (including consumer credit)

(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 3

Thomas Samuels – Henderson Chambers ‘He is an expert in the field of defending Consumer Credit Act cases.’