3 Verulam Buildings is praised for its 'considerable strength and depth of talent in the civil fraud area'. Combined with their acknowledged strengths in banking and financial services matters, the members provide a compelling mix of expertise in complex financial fraud claims as well as broader international disputes. Major cases include the long running Tatneft v Bogolyubov & Others in which Ewan McQuater QC and Matthew Parker QC successfully represented the defendant. SKAT v Solo Capital Partners LLP - a case concerning an alleged cum-ex trading system which the Danish tax authorities claim defrauded it of £1.5bn - also involved senior and junior members such as Andrew Onslow QC and David Head QC, acting on behalf of numerous defendants, including those represented by DWF.
Fraud: civil in
London Bar3 Verulam Buildings
Testimonials
Set
‘3VB is an excellent set. All Counsel have great expertise, from pupils to QCs. The juniors are particularly excellent.’
‘3VB is an excellent set for commercial litigation, including civil fraud matters. I have worked with, and against, several barristers from the set and they have been of a high calibre. The clerks are good too.’
‘3VB is a favourite set. It combines excellent counsel with superb clerking.’
‘A number of excellent practitioners who punch above their call. ‘
‘Top of the range set with strength in depth amongst its leaders and juniors. Our go to set for complex financial fraud work and urgent matters.’
Clerking
‘Richard Ansell is always a great help and goes the extra mile to assist.’
‘The clerks are very responsive and helpful. Nothing is too much trouble for them.’
‘Stephen Penson is an impressive practice manager.’
‘A really friendly bunch of clerks, with good service provided.’
‘The clerks are great. Stuart Pullum, their head clerk, is the person I mostly deal with. He’s a lovely man. Very commercial and sensible.’
Blackstone Chambers
Blackstone Chambers has 'some exceptional fraud advocates' and is commended for being 'very strong from top to bottom'. Civil fraud has always been a key area of focus, and this is reflected in the calibre of cases that the silks and juniors are regularly instructed on. Members often work together on cases, as was the case in Organic Grape Spirit Limited v Nueva IQT where Tom Weisselberg QC and Peter Head successfully represented the appellant in a case with major implications for freezing orders applied to emerging businesses. Another highlight was Privatbank v Kolomoisky and ors in which Robert Anderson QC and Andrew Hunter QC were co-lead counsel for claimant Ukrainian bank.
Testimonials
Set
‘Blackstone Chambers is the leading set in commercial and fraud litigation, housing some of the finest barristers in the UK and highly efficient clerks. Their first rate webinars are also extremely informative and much appreciated across the industry.’
‘Blackstone has some exceptional fraud advocates. ‘
‘Blackstone Chambers is a first-rate set, and I have never been disappointed by their members or clerks. ‘
‘Blackstone is right in the top rank of chambers for commercial fraud.’
‘Blackstone Chambers are excellent across the board. Whenever the first choice is unavailable, they produce a list of excellent alternatives who never let you down and who then become regular counsel of choice.’
Clerking
‘Adam Fuschillo is particularly easy to deal with and very responsive.’
‘The clerks are responsive and deal with queries promptly.’
‘The clerks at Blackstone go above and beyond in terms of flexibility, communication and transparency.’
‘The clerking is a dream; friendly, helpful, understanding and their fee levels are commercially realistic for such a top chambers. Derek Sutton is just superb to work with and the eminent Gary Oliver is friendly and supportive in every way possible.’
‘Always excellent. Adam Sloane is very user-friendly and always available.’
Brick Court Chambers
Brick Court Chambers is 'one of the top sets for civil fraud with very strong bench from juniors to top preforming QCs'. The set's members are regularly involved on a broad range of fraud disputes, including major cross-border matters. A particularly high profile matter were Federal Republic of Nigeria v JPMorgan; and Federal Republic of Nigeria v Shell plc, Eni SPA and others, arising from an allegedly fraudulent schem to sell the rights to a Nigerian oil block to a Shell/Eni consortium in 2011, in which Roger Masefield QC is leading Richard Blakeley and Ben Woolgar for the Nigerian government. Meanwhile, Tim Lord QC and Fred Hobson act for three of the defendants, Guenther Klar, Europa LLP and Khajuraho, in SKAT v Solo Capital Partners and 160 Others. Neil Calver QC's departure to the bench was offset by the arrival of Vernon Flynn QC from Essex Court Chambers.
Testimonials
Set
‘Very commercial and reliable set, user-friendly and keen to assist with getting the right people in place on the right matters.’
‘Excellent set with real strength in depth.’
‘One of the top sets for civil fraud with very strong bench from juniors to top preforming QCs.’
‘Powerful set with massive strength in depth and across disciplines.’
‘Excellent set of chambers, I consider them a real go-to set for civil fraud and commercial litigation work.’
Clerking
‘Jo Francis is very good.’
‘Always excellent and Tony Burgess a standout.’
‘Excellent service.’
‘Always very professional and easy to deal with. Will Jackman is a real standout – very proactive and commercial.’
‘Tony Burgess is a good relationship-builder.’
Essex Court Chambers
Essex Court Chambers is 'the leading set for large, complex civil fraud cases', commended for its 'number of very impressive individuals, and huge strength in depth'. Silks such as Paul McGrath QC and Joe Smouha QC are among the most eminent practitioners in the field, and Smouha QC represented Mozambique in The Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse, Privinvest, and others, the 'tuna bond' scandal involving allegations of $200m in bribes, alongside Nathan Pillow QC and leading a team that includes Ciaran Keller. A highlight for McGrath QC has been The Libyan Investment Authority v Credit Suisse International, GLG Partners Asset Management Ltd & Ors, in which he is leading Ruth den Besten on behalf of GLG Partners, in a claim involving allegations of bribes paid to secure a $200m investment into funds. Vernon Flynn QC left to join Brick Court Chambers.
Testimonials
Set
‘Excellent strength in depth – they really are pre-eminent in this area.’
‘Excellent recent fraud conference series and lots of great barristers in this area.’
‘ Superb for complex fraud. ‘
‘A magic circle set, with a particular strength in civil fraud and asset recovery. Reliably excellent, I am happy using barristers there that I have not worked with before.’
‘They are the ‘go to’ fraud chambers, in a category of their own when it comes to civil fraud.’
Clerking
‘Jack Wood is consistently outstanding. He delivers an extremely high level of service to solicitor clients: he combines a can-do attitude with a pragmatic commercial approach to ensure that the right counsel is instructed. If I ever have a tricky case or a last minute issue, Jack is my first call.’
‘Clerking is excellent – particularly Kevin Grubb.’
‘Top of class – proactive, available, and nothing is too much trouble. A special mention goes to Joe Ferrigno, who sets the standard for modern clerking.’
‘Ben Perry has looked after my instructions to Counsel for years. He took the time to understand my practice and take an interest in my business as it grew, as well as assist me in instructing Counsel at Essex Court. First rate!’
‘Refreshingly clear and straightforward.’
Fountain Court Chambers
Fountain Court Chambers is 'undoubtedly one of the premier league sets at the Bar for this type of work', and is particularly well noted for financial services and banking-related fraud claims, as well as an increasing crossover into criminal law. Jeffrey Chapman QC is becoming an increasingly prominent figure in this area, as reflected in his advice to Wirecard, in Manek v Wirecard, where he has been leading up-and-coming junior Samuel Ritchie in the successful strikeout of fraud allegations against senior Wirecard executives concerning the acquisition of the Indian payments business Hermes. Stephen Rubin QC is another top tier silk with a fantastic reputation, and has been leading Alexander Milner QC in Motorola Corporation v Hytera Corporation, in which they are advising Hytera in a freezing order that raises important issues as to without prejudice correspondence and Chabra relief.
Testimonials
Set
‘Strong set. Still comfortably premier league.’
‘Fountain Court is my “go to” set of chambers. I always know that I will get a very able, legally astute and commercially minded barrister. They very rarely have no one available to deal with any time sensitive cases.’
‘They are absolutely top tier for complex fraud disputes.’
‘Fountain Court Chambers has a number of very strong counsel in the civil fraud area.’
‘Strength in depth, particularly at QC level. Excellent clerking team.’
Clerking
‘I have always found the clerks to be very helpful and well connected within the Courts.’
‘Excellent. The clerks are always willing to go that extra mile to help with any issue or case that we have. Reiss Nott and Richard Evans stand out.’
‘The clerks are responsive and helpful, Alfie Harper and Chloe Gibbs in particular.’
‘Alex Taylor and Sian Huckett offer a first class clerking service.’
‘I have always found the clerks to be incredibly helfpul and responsive, in particular, Reiss Nott who I have worked with many times. Even if he is not responsible for the particular counsel I am working with, he always ensures that there is appropriate levels of support. My experience with all clerks at Fountain Court has been excellent and it makes my job significantly easier. ‘
Maitland Chambers
Maitland Chambers has an excellent reputation for civil fraud, built upon its impressive Chancery foundations. The talent is especially strong at the mid-career level, with several first rate junior and mid-level silks, backed up by an impressive roster of juniors. High profile cases include Addlesee v Dentons LLP, where Thomas Grant QC led Thomas Munby QC on behalf of the claimant group in a large group action before the Court of Appeal involving claims of fraud, negligence and questions of legal professional privilege against the law firm over losses from a gold dust investment scheme. David Mumford QC is also building a superb reputation and is representing the defendant against freezing order proceedings in Convoy Collateral Ltd v Cho, with Richard Morgan QC on the opposing side. George Hayman QC and Benjamin John are on a team of five members representing Vitaly Orlov in Tugushev v Orlov and Others, the long-running saga concerning the ownership of fishing company Norebo.
Testimonials
Set
‘Maitland are great to deal with. I have no hesitation in placing them right at the top of my list whenever I am looking for counsel.’
‘Maitland are an excellent chambers in civil fraud. ‘
‘Maitland remains a leading set for Chancery and commercial work. Barristers at all levels are able and great to work with.’
‘The set is brimming with the very best barristers – they are knowledgeable, hard-working and very experienced.’
‘Maitland Chambers are extremely capable and are my go to for assistance.
Clerking
‘Clerks are very responsive and commercial – Danny Wilkinson will do whatever can be done to get the job done.’
‘The clerks are great. John Wiggs is a real gentleman, whose views and recommendations I really trust.’
‘Very efficient. Rio-Louise Sully and Danny Wilkinson are a pleasure to work with.’
‘The clerking team are very helpful and practical, and adept at dealing with the Court. ‘
‘Their head clerk John Wiggs always ensures we are very well looked after – they never seem to fail to feed someone talented no matter our demands.’
One Essex Court
One Essex Court is a regular top choice for the largest civil fraud claims and ‘has a large number of talented barristers at every level of seniority and seems to have a particularly strong pipeline of talent in its junior ranks‘. The quality of the barristers is reflected in the calibre of the cases they are instructed on, often working together in large teams. The most high profile matter of recent years has been ACL Netherlands BV (as successor to Autonomy Corporation Limited) & Ors v Lynch & Another, concerning allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation prior to Autonomy’s takeover by Hewlett Packard, in which Laurence Rabinowitz QC and Conall Patton QC represented the claimants. Neil Kitchener QC and Richard Mott also represented 58 institutional investors in OMERS Administration Corporation and others v Tesco Plc, concerning Tesco’s profit overstatement. The case, which had Rabinowitz QC and Patton QC on the other side, settled in in 2020.
Testimonials
Set
‘Top draw set for big ticket commercial litigation and civil fraud. They have real strength in depth at every level. Wonderful ability to develop their juniors into top quality QCs.’
‘An excellent set for civil fraud with excellent practitioner at all levels.’
‘First class in every respect. The depth of talent across the range of barristers – from most junior to most senior – is impressive.’
‘One Essex Court is a go-to set for the most complex and demanding cross-border litigation in the Commercial Court. The members of Chambers work effectively together, and are willing to get involved in the detail with their instructing solicitors, which produces a formidable team.’
‘One Essex Court has a strong civil fraud practice with a number of excellent practitioners at all levels.’
Clerking
‘High quality clerking team. Very responsive and clear.’
‘Probably the best in the city. First rate service, very polite and professional – particular standouts are Ben O’Hanlon, David Amdor and Rob Smith.’
‘The clerking team is superb. Darren Burrows is extremely responsive and always willing to go the extra mile to help. Rob Smith is also excellent.’
‘The clerks are responsive, courteous and proactive. Ben O’Hanlon and David Amdor are particular stars.’
‘A great clerks room. Darren Burrows and Jackie Ginty are superb. Adam Wheeler is a pleasure to deal with and very much up and coming.’
Serle Court
Serle Court is 'superbly skillful at all levels and a great team from clerks to QCs'. The set has long been a leading force in civil fraud, combined with its strong expertise in offshore and trusts related disputes. Several members, including chambers head Elizabeth Jones QC , Justin Higgo QC and Paul Adams, represented the claimants in Glenn v Watson & Ors, a multi-jurisdictional fraud dispute concerning the deceitful execution of a joint venture agreement, in which the first defendant was committed for contempt in 2020. Philip Marshall QC is also leading Simon Hattan for one of the defendants, Kamran Amouzegar, in The Public Institution for Social Security v Al-Rajaan, an $800 million case concerning an alleged embezzlement of Kuwait's state pension fund, in which the team successfully challenged the jurisdiction of the English Court with an appeal due to be heard in 2022.
Testimonials
Set
‘Serle are clearly a significant force in a range of Commercial and Chancery work. They have undoubted strength in depth as their juniors are well known and highly regarded.’
‘Serle Court are an absolutely first rate set. The quality of the barristers I have worked with there has been uniformly high and their breadth of expertise within the area is impressive. I would highly recommend them to anyone.’
‘Strength in depth in all commercial areas.’
‘Serle Court is one of the best sets around. Always in my list when I’m seeking to instruct a barrister.’
‘The set has been a top set for many years.’
Clerking
‘The clerks are fantastic! Emma Quin is always friendly and helpful. The clerks at Serle Court really do go the extra mile to assist and always try to understand the needs of a project.’
‘The clerks are very organised and easy and straightforward to deal with. They make every effort to guarantee availability of counsel and are sensible in discussions over quotations.’
‘Steve Whitaker is very good.’
‘Nick Hockney is always charming and will go the extra mile for me.’
‘The clerks I dealt with (including Steve Whitaker and Charlie Payne) were fantastic. They were knowledgeable about court process and efficient.’
Twenty Essex
Twenty Essex is 'a very strong set with a wide range of experiences ranging from top-notch QCs to extremely able juniors starting out on their careers'. Civil fraud claims regularly feature on the agenda, often with a link to the set's traditional strengths in trade, commodities, and international arbitration, as well as other areas of growth such as banking, insolvency and offshore claims. Six members represented the defendants against fraudulent conspiracy claims brought by two Russian banks in PJSC National Bank Trust and PJSC Otkritie Bank Financial Corporation v Mints, with Philip Edey QC and Andrew Fulton QC representing Boris Mints, and Duncan Matthews QC defending his son, Igor Mints. Paul Lowenstein QC is also representing Standard Chartered in Standard Chartered Bank and another v Holdwave Trading Ltd and another, a fraud case involving accusations of money laundering.
Testimonials
Set
‘Twenty Essex are a formidable set with real depth and breadth of talent, both in arbitration as well as litigation.’
‘They are reliable and dependable and have a very good crew on board.’
‘Always have strong barristers to put forward for any matter.’
‘Clearly a leading set for civil fraud.’
‘A fantastic set, usually my first port of call.’
Clerking
‘Chris Theobald at Twenty Essex is an outstanding clerk who understands instructing solicitors’ demands and commercial objectives.’
‘Excellent. Tara Shah is an excellent clerk. Pleasure to work with.’
‘The clerks are great and will deal with queries promptly.’
‘Extremely helpful and experienced clerks. Good availability and, when required, will go the extra mile.’
‘Excellent, with a special mention to Chris Theobald who is always available and willing to assist.’
Wilberforce Chambers
Wilberforce Chambers is 'an excellent set with a deep bench of experience'. In addition to the high-quality silks and juniors, clients also appreciate the set's infrastructure which is well placed to handle fast-moving fraud claims. Coupled with this is the set's excellent standing for offshore disputes, where it is among the very best in London. Alan Gourgey QC has an excellent reputation in this field and is currently leading Jack Watson on behalf of the a Russian bank in liquidation in Vneshprombank v Bedzhamov, in which a ten-week trial involving claims of conspiracy and fraud is set for early 2022. Another leading figure is John Wardell QC who, alongside Thomas Lowe QC and Watson, was representing AHAB in its epic two-decade, $128 billion fraud dispute, AHAB v Saad Investments Company Limited, which was awaiting its Cayman Islands Appeal Court judgment at press time against several outstanding defendants, having agreed a settlement with Saad in October 2020.
Testimonials
Set
‘Have some excellent barristers in the civil fraud, international asset recovery and insolvency areas.’
‘We use Wilberforce chambers on a regular basis and will continue to do so – they have an impressive depth and breadth to their practice.’
‘A great set with real strength in depth; all the barristers there are really easy to work with and great at what they do.’
‘Excellent set; my go to set. Very deep bench of experience.’
‘Wilberforce a are great set of specialists in serious fraud matters.’
Clerking
‘Really commercial and practical, they look to meet your and the clients’ needs at every opportunity.’
‘Pleasant, capable and professional. I have been particularly impressed by Nancy Lee.’
‘Clerks are fantastic at fraud matters as they have a seemingly direct line to the Court to get urgent matters dealt with. Andrew Barnes and Ben Rippengale in particular.’
‘The clerks are always helpful and put themselves out to be responsive and help with listing issues. I have dealt in particular with Harvey Scott who always responds quickly and bends over backwards to find a solution if help is needed.’
‘The clerks’ room provides an excellent level of service. They’re all really responsive and always seem happy to help. Nicholas Luckman has shown himself to be sensible on fees and my day-to-day dealings with clerks such as Harvey Scott, Luke Farmer, Andrew Barnes and Antonia Matthew has been hassle-free and effective.’
XXIV Old Buildings
XXIV Old Buildings is one of the premier sets for offshore disputes, and this invariably feeds into its members experience in large-scale civil fraud claims, with silks and juniors both coming highly recommended. Steven Thompson QC has a strong reputation in this area and is facing off against Edward Cumming QC in Kazakhstan Kagazy v Martin, in which the defendant is accused of taking a bonus from money that he allegedly knew was stolen from the claimant. The set also fields a selection of extremely experienced senior juniors, including Stuart Adair who is representing a shareholder and director, John McCarthy, in the case of Re Emerald Meats (London) Limited, an insolvency involving allegations of fraud, in which Alan Steinfeld QC is on the opposing side, representing another shareholder and director.
Testimonials
Set
‘XXIV are my go to Commercial Chancery set. I am usually working with two or three of their barristers at any time and will always consider them for complex trusts, fraud and off-shore work.’
‘XXIV is an extraordinary set. They work well as a team offering good QC and junior combinations thus providing the client with real value.’
‘XXIV is a really good set, full of extremely bright people who manage to avoid veering into being grand about it.’
‘XXIV Old Buildings have a lot of QCs who are experienced in offshore cases.’
‘XXIV have for many years been one of the premier sets with a focus on the offshore market. They have the sort of strength and depth that one would expect in this area.’
Clerking
‘Paul Horsfield in particular is extremely user friendly and conscientious.’
‘The set is well served by its clerks.’
‘Great clerks, responsive and helpful.’
‘Paul Horsfeld is incredibly responsive and polite and has his finger on the pulse of the market.’
‘A first rate clerking team who are straightforward and easy to deal with.’
4 Stone Buildings
4 Stone Buildings' combined strengths in commercial and Chancery cases make it a compelling choice for major fraud trials. The overlap into areas such as offshore, insolvency, and company law also ensures its members offer clients a broad spread of relevant expertise. Testament to the strengths of its members are leading roles on major cases such as Autonomy Corporation v Lynch, a case concerning the Hewlett-Packard's purchase of the company, in which Richard Hill QC lead a team of three members on behalf of the defendant; the civil litigation sits against a backdrop of the US government's request for Lynch's extradition. Jonathan Crow QC was instructed by the Secretary of State for Health in Secretary of State for Health v Servier Laboratories Ltd, which went to the Supreme Court following the claim that Servier had overcharged the NHS, having allegedly wrongly secured extensions to its patents.
Testimonials
Set
‘4 Stone Buildings are a top flight set of barristers with real depth of quality and experience. They are consistently at the top end of reported cases and are a first port of call for almost all matters.’
‘Stone Buildings has several excellent senior barristers to fill the shoes of Robert Miles QC, who has now joined the bench. They are particularly strong on Chancery matters but are comfortable with commercial cases as well.’
Clerking
‘Very efficient and helpful.’
‘David Goddard runs a tight, responsive ship.’
‘Excellent. David Goddard has been ably assisted over more recent times and their clerking is both sensitive as well as pragmatic.’
‘Ben Lashmar is an excellent clerk and looks after us very well.’
7 King's Bench Walk
7 King's Bench Walk is 'a really good set with several top notch practitioners' who are rapidly building a strong presence in the civil fraud space. Silks such as David Allen QC are especially active in this area, as demonstrated by his role on PDVSA Servicios SA v Petrosaudi Oil Services in which he is leading Michael Ryan in the defence of PetroSaudi - a case concerning the enforcement of an arbitration award, where it is alleged that funds earmarked to pay it are proceeds of the 1MDB fraud. Another highlight was the Brilliante Virtuoso case, a shipping insurance claim involving allegations of a fake Somali pirate attack, in which Jonathan Gaisman QC , Richard Waller QC and Keir Howie represented the insurers.
Testimonials
Set
‘7KBW has an excellent up and coming civil fraud practice. One of our go-to sets.’
‘Excellent set – highest quality.’
‘7 KBW are a very good set with strength in depth from QCs down to Juniors. They offer excellent email circulars on recent developments in case law and industry updates.’
‘Strength in depth at all levels and very user friendly. They have an excellent range of talented juniors.’
‘They are keen to develop their fraud offering and given that they have some very clever commercial counsel and are increasingly involved in major fraud cases, I think they will achieve success in developing into a leading set in the area.’
Clerking
‘A great team of senior clerks with real strength in depth.’
‘The clerks room at 7KBW are old school – they go out of their way to help solicitors. They also charge sensibly!’
‘Particular praise to Gary Rose, who is amazing at what he does.’
‘Bernie Hyatt – Hugely experienced. Very clear when agreeing brief fees.’
‘The clerks’ room at 7KBW provide an efficient and friendly service. They are extremely professional and adapted well to remote working. I have worked predominantly with Bernie Hyatt and Gary Rose who are both provide an excellent service.’
South Square
South Square has a good track record for major fraud disputes, particularly those with a significant insolvency or offshore component - areas in which the set excels. The set's members can regularly be found on some of the largest cases to hit the market. Tom Smith QC has made an especially good name for himself in this area and is lead counsel (with Richard Fisher QC and Robert Amey in support) to the Madoff feeder fund, Primeo, in its billion dollar claim against its former administrator and custodian, HSBC, for fraud and negligence. Smith QC and Felicity Toube QC are also representing the Abu Dhabi-headquartered and formerly London-listed health care company, NMC Group, and its administrators, on fraud issues emanating from its administration.
Testimonials
Set
‘We work a lot with South Square, particularly on large scale complex commercial litigation and insolvency cases, usually with an international element. They are also strong on fraud cases.’
‘South Square has a very strong bench for civil fraud lawyers.’
‘They are an excellent insolvency and chancery set.’
Clerking
‘The clerks at South Square are responsive, and Marco Malatesta is commercial and practical in all my dealings with him.’
‘The South Square clerks are always extremely responsive and helpful.’
‘Excellent service.’
‘The clerks are friendly and responsive.’
3 Verulam Buildings
Testimonials
Set
‘3VB is an excellent set. All Counsel have great expertise, from pupils to QCs. The juniors are particularly excellent.’
‘3VB is an excellent set for commercial litigation, including civil fraud matters. I have worked with, and against, several barristers from the set and they have been of a high calibre. The clerks are good too.’
‘3VB is a favourite set. It combines excellent counsel with superb clerking.’
‘A number of excellent practitioners who punch above their call. ‘
‘Top of the range set with strength in depth amongst its leaders and juniors. Our go to set for complex financial fraud work and urgent matters.’
Clerking
‘Richard Ansell is always a great help and goes the extra mile to assist.’
‘The clerks are very responsive and helpful. Nothing is too much trouble for them.’
‘Stephen Penson is an impressive practice manager.’
‘A really friendly bunch of clerks, with good service provided.’
‘The clerks are great. Stuart Pullum, their head clerk, is the person I mostly deal with. He’s a lovely man. Very commercial and sensible.’
Blackstone Chambers
Blackstone Chambers has 'some exceptional fraud advocates' and is commended for being 'very strong from top to bottom'. Civil fraud has always been a key area of focus, and this is reflected in the calibre of cases that the silks and juniors are regularly instructed on. Members often work together on cases, as was the case in Organic Grape Spirit Limited v Nueva IQT where Tom Weisselberg QC and Peter Head successfully represented the appellant in a case with major implications for freezing orders applied to emerging businesses. Another highlight was Privatbank v Kolomoisky and ors in which Robert Anderson QC and Andrew Hunter QC were co-lead counsel for claimant Ukrainian bank.
Testimonials
Set
‘Blackstone Chambers is the leading set in commercial and fraud litigation, housing some of the finest barristers in the UK and highly efficient clerks. Their first rate webinars are also extremely informative and much appreciated across the industry.’
‘Blackstone has some exceptional fraud advocates. ‘
‘Blackstone Chambers is a first-rate set, and I have never been disappointed by their members or clerks. ‘
‘Blackstone is right in the top rank of chambers for commercial fraud.’
‘Blackstone Chambers are excellent across the board. Whenever the first choice is unavailable, they produce a list of excellent alternatives who never let you down and who then become regular counsel of choice.’
Clerking
‘Adam Fuschillo is particularly easy to deal with and very responsive.’
‘The clerks are responsive and deal with queries promptly.’
‘The clerks at Blackstone go above and beyond in terms of flexibility, communication and transparency.’
‘The clerking is a dream; friendly, helpful, understanding and their fee levels are commercially realistic for such a top chambers. Derek Sutton is just superb to work with and the eminent Gary Oliver is friendly and supportive in every way possible.’
‘Always excellent. Adam Sloane is very user-friendly and always available.’
Brick Court Chambers
Brick Court Chambers is 'one of the top sets for civil fraud with very strong bench from juniors to top preforming QCs'. The set's members are regularly involved on a broad range of fraud disputes, including major cross-border matters. A particularly high profile matter were Federal Republic of Nigeria v JPMorgan; and Federal Republic of Nigeria v Shell plc, Eni SPA and others, arising from an allegedly fraudulent schem to sell the rights to a Nigerian oil block to a Shell/Eni consortium in 2011, in which Roger Masefield QC is leading Richard Blakeley and Ben Woolgar for the Nigerian government. Meanwhile, Tim Lord QC and Fred Hobson act for three of the defendants, Guenther Klar, Europa LLP and Khajuraho, in SKAT v Solo Capital Partners and 160 Others. Neil Calver QC's departure to the bench was offset by the arrival of Vernon Flynn QC from Essex Court Chambers.
Testimonials
Set
‘Very commercial and reliable set, user-friendly and keen to assist with getting the right people in place on the right matters.’
‘Excellent set with real strength in depth.’
‘One of the top sets for civil fraud with very strong bench from juniors to top preforming QCs.’
‘Powerful set with massive strength in depth and across disciplines.’
‘Excellent set of chambers, I consider them a real go-to set for civil fraud and commercial litigation work.’
Clerking
‘Jo Francis is very good.’
‘Always excellent and Tony Burgess a standout.’
‘Excellent service.’
‘Always very professional and easy to deal with. Will Jackman is a real standout – very proactive and commercial.’
‘Tony Burgess is a good relationship-builder.’
Essex Court Chambers
Essex Court Chambers is 'the leading set for large, complex civil fraud cases', commended for its 'number of very impressive individuals, and huge strength in depth'. Silks such as Paul McGrath QC and Joe Smouha QC are among the most eminent practitioners in the field, and Smouha QC represented Mozambique in The Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse, Privinvest, and others, the 'tuna bond' scandal involving allegations of $200m in bribes, alongside Nathan Pillow QC and leading a team that includes Ciaran Keller. A highlight for McGrath QC has been The Libyan Investment Authority v Credit Suisse International, GLG Partners Asset Management Ltd & Ors, in which he is leading Ruth den Besten on behalf of GLG Partners, in a claim involving allegations of bribes paid to secure a $200m investment into funds. Vernon Flynn QC left to join Brick Court Chambers.
Testimonials
Set
‘Excellent strength in depth – they really are pre-eminent in this area.’
‘Excellent recent fraud conference series and lots of great barristers in this area.’
‘ Superb for complex fraud. ‘
‘A magic circle set, with a particular strength in civil fraud and asset recovery. Reliably excellent, I am happy using barristers there that I have not worked with before.’
‘They are the ‘go to’ fraud chambers, in a category of their own when it comes to civil fraud.’
Clerking
‘Jack Wood is consistently outstanding. He delivers an extremely high level of service to solicitor clients: he combines a can-do attitude with a pragmatic commercial approach to ensure that the right counsel is instructed. If I ever have a tricky case or a last minute issue, Jack is my first call.’
‘Clerking is excellent – particularly Kevin Grubb.’
‘Top of class – proactive, available, and nothing is too much trouble. A special mention goes to Joe Ferrigno, who sets the standard for modern clerking.’
‘Ben Perry has looked after my instructions to Counsel for years. He took the time to understand my practice and take an interest in my business as it grew, as well as assist me in instructing Counsel at Essex Court. First rate!’
‘Refreshingly clear and straightforward.’
Fountain Court Chambers
Fountain Court Chambers is 'undoubtedly one of the premier league sets at the Bar for this type of work', and is particularly well noted for financial services and banking-related fraud claims, as well as an increasing crossover into criminal law. Jeffrey Chapman QC is becoming an increasingly prominent figure in this area, as reflected in his advice to Wirecard, in Manek v Wirecard, where he has been leading up-and-coming junior Samuel Ritchie in the successful strikeout of fraud allegations against senior Wirecard executives concerning the acquisition of the Indian payments business Hermes. Stephen Rubin QC is another top tier silk with a fantastic reputation, and has been leading Alexander Milner QC in Motorola Corporation v Hytera Corporation, in which they are advising Hytera in a freezing order that raises important issues as to without prejudice correspondence and Chabra relief.
Testimonials
Set
‘Strong set. Still comfortably premier league.’
‘Fountain Court is my “go to” set of chambers. I always know that I will get a very able, legally astute and commercially minded barrister. They very rarely have no one available to deal with any time sensitive cases.’
‘They are absolutely top tier for complex fraud disputes.’
‘Fountain Court Chambers has a number of very strong counsel in the civil fraud area.’
‘Strength in depth, particularly at QC level. Excellent clerking team.’
Clerking
‘I have always found the clerks to be very helpful and well connected within the Courts.’
‘Excellent. The clerks are always willing to go that extra mile to help with any issue or case that we have. Reiss Nott and Richard Evans stand out.’
‘The clerks are responsive and helpful, Alfie Harper and Chloe Gibbs in particular.’
‘Alex Taylor and Sian Huckett offer a first class clerking service.’
‘I have always found the clerks to be incredibly helfpul and responsive, in particular, Reiss Nott who I have worked with many times. Even if he is not responsible for the particular counsel I am working with, he always ensures that there is appropriate levels of support. My experience with all clerks at Fountain Court has been excellent and it makes my job significantly easier. ‘
Maitland Chambers
Maitland Chambers has an excellent reputation for civil fraud, built upon its impressive Chancery foundations. The talent is especially strong at the mid-career level, with several first rate junior and mid-level silks, backed up by an impressive roster of juniors. High profile cases include Addlesee v Dentons LLP, where Thomas Grant QC led Thomas Munby QC on behalf of the claimant group in a large group action before the Court of Appeal involving claims of fraud, negligence and questions of legal professional privilege against the law firm over losses from a gold dust investment scheme. David Mumford QC is also building a superb reputation and is representing the defendant against freezing order proceedings in Convoy Collateral Ltd v Cho, with Richard Morgan QC on the opposing side. George Hayman QC and Benjamin John are on a team of five members representing Vitaly Orlov in Tugushev v Orlov and Others, the long-running saga concerning the ownership of fishing company Norebo.
Testimonials
Set
‘Maitland are great to deal with. I have no hesitation in placing them right at the top of my list whenever I am looking for counsel.’
‘Maitland are an excellent chambers in civil fraud. ‘
‘Maitland remains a leading set for Chancery and commercial work. Barristers at all levels are able and great to work with.’
‘The set is brimming with the very best barristers – they are knowledgeable, hard-working and very experienced.’
‘Maitland Chambers are extremely capable and are my go to for assistance.
Clerking
‘Clerks are very responsive and commercial – Danny Wilkinson will do whatever can be done to get the job done.’
‘The clerks are great. John Wiggs is a real gentleman, whose views and recommendations I really trust.’
‘Very efficient. Rio-Louise Sully and Danny Wilkinson are a pleasure to work with.’
‘The clerking team are very helpful and practical, and adept at dealing with the Court. ‘
‘Their head clerk John Wiggs always ensures we are very well looked after – they never seem to fail to feed someone talented no matter our demands.’
One Essex Court
One Essex Court is a regular top choice for the largest civil fraud claims and ‘has a large number of talented barristers at every level of seniority and seems to have a particularly strong pipeline of talent in its junior ranks‘. The quality of the barristers is reflected in the calibre of the cases they are instructed on, often working together in large teams. The most high profile matter of recent years has been ACL Netherlands BV (as successor to Autonomy Corporation Limited) & Ors v Lynch & Another, concerning allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation prior to Autonomy’s takeover by Hewlett Packard, in which Laurence Rabinowitz QC and Conall Patton QC represented the claimants. Neil Kitchener QC and Richard Mott also represented 58 institutional investors in OMERS Administration Corporation and others v Tesco Plc, concerning Tesco’s profit overstatement. The case, which had Rabinowitz QC and Patton QC on the other side, settled in in 2020.
Testimonials
Set
‘Top draw set for big ticket commercial litigation and civil fraud. They have real strength in depth at every level. Wonderful ability to develop their juniors into top quality QCs.’
‘An excellent set for civil fraud with excellent practitioner at all levels.’
‘First class in every respect. The depth of talent across the range of barristers – from most junior to most senior – is impressive.’
‘One Essex Court is a go-to set for the most complex and demanding cross-border litigation in the Commercial Court. The members of Chambers work effectively together, and are willing to get involved in the detail with their instructing solicitors, which produces a formidable team.’
‘One Essex Court has a strong civil fraud practice with a number of excellent practitioners at all levels.’
Clerking
‘High quality clerking team. Very responsive and clear.’
‘Probably the best in the city. First rate service, very polite and professional – particular standouts are Ben O’Hanlon, David Amdor and Rob Smith.’
‘The clerking team is superb. Darren Burrows is extremely responsive and always willing to go the extra mile to help. Rob Smith is also excellent.’
‘The clerks are responsive, courteous and proactive. Ben O’Hanlon and David Amdor are particular stars.’
‘A great clerks room. Darren Burrows and Jackie Ginty are superb. Adam Wheeler is a pleasure to deal with and very much up and coming.’
Serle Court
Serle Court is 'superbly skillful at all levels and a great team from clerks to QCs'. The set has long been a leading force in civil fraud, combined with its strong expertise in offshore and trusts related disputes. Several members, including chambers head Elizabeth Jones QC , Justin Higgo QC and Paul Adams, represented the claimants in Glenn v Watson & Ors, a multi-jurisdictional fraud dispute concerning the deceitful execution of a joint venture agreement, in which the first defendant was committed for contempt in 2020. Philip Marshall QC is also leading Simon Hattan for one of the defendants, Kamran Amouzegar, in The Public Institution for Social Security v Al-Rajaan, an $800 million case concerning an alleged embezzlement of Kuwait's state pension fund, in which the team successfully challenged the jurisdiction of the English Court with an appeal due to be heard in 2022.
Testimonials
Set
‘Serle are clearly a significant force in a range of Commercial and Chancery work. They have undoubted strength in depth as their juniors are well known and highly regarded.’
‘Serle Court are an absolutely first rate set. The quality of the barristers I have worked with there has been uniformly high and their breadth of expertise within the area is impressive. I would highly recommend them to anyone.’
‘Strength in depth in all commercial areas.’
‘Serle Court is one of the best sets around. Always in my list when I’m seeking to instruct a barrister.’
‘The set has been a top set for many years.’
Clerking
‘The clerks are fantastic! Emma Quin is always friendly and helpful. The clerks at Serle Court really do go the extra mile to assist and always try to understand the needs of a project.’
‘The clerks are very organised and easy and straightforward to deal with. They make every effort to guarantee availability of counsel and are sensible in discussions over quotations.’
‘Steve Whitaker is very good.’
‘Nick Hockney is always charming and will go the extra mile for me.’
‘The clerks I dealt with (including Steve Whitaker and Charlie Payne) were fantastic. They were knowledgeable about court process and efficient.’
Twenty Essex
Twenty Essex is 'a very strong set with a wide range of experiences ranging from top-notch QCs to extremely able juniors starting out on their careers'. Civil fraud claims regularly feature on the agenda, often with a link to the set's traditional strengths in trade, commodities, and international arbitration, as well as other areas of growth such as banking, insolvency and offshore claims. Six members represented the defendants against fraudulent conspiracy claims brought by two Russian banks in PJSC National Bank Trust and PJSC Otkritie Bank Financial Corporation v Mints, with Philip Edey QC and Andrew Fulton QC representing Boris Mints, and Duncan Matthews QC defending his son, Igor Mints. Paul Lowenstein QC is also representing Standard Chartered in Standard Chartered Bank and another v Holdwave Trading Ltd and another, a fraud case involving accusations of money laundering.
Testimonials
Set
‘Twenty Essex are a formidable set with real depth and breadth of talent, both in arbitration as well as litigation.’
‘They are reliable and dependable and have a very good crew on board.’
‘Always have strong barristers to put forward for any matter.’
‘Clearly a leading set for civil fraud.’
‘A fantastic set, usually my first port of call.’
Clerking
‘Chris Theobald at Twenty Essex is an outstanding clerk who understands instructing solicitors’ demands and commercial objectives.’
‘Excellent. Tara Shah is an excellent clerk. Pleasure to work with.’
‘The clerks are great and will deal with queries promptly.’
‘Extremely helpful and experienced clerks. Good availability and, when required, will go the extra mile.’
‘Excellent, with a special mention to Chris Theobald who is always available and willing to assist.’
Wilberforce Chambers
Wilberforce Chambers is 'an excellent set with a deep bench of experience'. In addition to the high-quality silks and juniors, clients also appreciate the set's infrastructure which is well placed to handle fast-moving fraud claims. Coupled with this is the set's excellent standing for offshore disputes, where it is among the very best in London. Alan Gourgey QC has an excellent reputation in this field and is currently leading Jack Watson on behalf of the a Russian bank in liquidation in Vneshprombank v Bedzhamov, in which a ten-week trial involving claims of conspiracy and fraud is set for early 2022. Another leading figure is John Wardell QC who, alongside Thomas Lowe QC and Watson, was representing AHAB in its epic two-decade, $128 billion fraud dispute, AHAB v Saad Investments Company Limited, which was awaiting its Cayman Islands Appeal Court judgment at press time against several outstanding defendants, having agreed a settlement with Saad in October 2020.
Testimonials
Set
‘Have some excellent barristers in the civil fraud, international asset recovery and insolvency areas.’
‘We use Wilberforce chambers on a regular basis and will continue to do so – they have an impressive depth and breadth to their practice.’
‘A great set with real strength in depth; all the barristers there are really easy to work with and great at what they do.’
‘Excellent set; my go to set. Very deep bench of experience.’
‘Wilberforce a are great set of specialists in serious fraud matters.’
Clerking
‘Really commercial and practical, they look to meet your and the clients’ needs at every opportunity.’
‘Pleasant, capable and professional. I have been particularly impressed by Nancy Lee.’
‘Clerks are fantastic at fraud matters as they have a seemingly direct line to the Court to get urgent matters dealt with. Andrew Barnes and Ben Rippengale in particular.’
‘The clerks are always helpful and put themselves out to be responsive and help with listing issues. I have dealt in particular with Harvey Scott who always responds quickly and bends over backwards to find a solution if help is needed.’
‘The clerks’ room provides an excellent level of service. They’re all really responsive and always seem happy to help. Nicholas Luckman has shown himself to be sensible on fees and my day-to-day dealings with clerks such as Harvey Scott, Luke Farmer, Andrew Barnes and Antonia Matthew has been hassle-free and effective.’
XXIV Old Buildings
XXIV Old Buildings is one of the premier sets for offshore disputes, and this invariably feeds into its members experience in large-scale civil fraud claims, with silks and juniors both coming highly recommended. Steven Thompson QC has a strong reputation in this area and is facing off against Edward Cumming QC in Kazakhstan Kagazy v Martin, in which the defendant is accused of taking a bonus from money that he allegedly knew was stolen from the claimant. The set also fields a selection of extremely experienced senior juniors, including Stuart Adair who is representing a shareholder and director, John McCarthy, in the case of Re Emerald Meats (London) Limited, an insolvency involving allegations of fraud, in which Alan Steinfeld QC is on the opposing side, representing another shareholder and director.
Testimonials
Set
‘XXIV are my go to Commercial Chancery set. I am usually working with two or three of their barristers at any time and will always consider them for complex trusts, fraud and off-shore work.’
‘XXIV is an extraordinary set. They work well as a team offering good QC and junior combinations thus providing the client with real value.’
‘XXIV is a really good set, full of extremely bright people who manage to avoid veering into being grand about it.’
‘XXIV Old Buildings have a lot of QCs who are experienced in offshore cases.’
‘XXIV have for many years been one of the premier sets with a focus on the offshore market. They have the sort of strength and depth that one would expect in this area.’
Clerking
‘Paul Horsfield in particular is extremely user friendly and conscientious.’
‘The set is well served by its clerks.’
‘Great clerks, responsive and helpful.’
‘Paul Horsfeld is incredibly responsive and polite and has his finger on the pulse of the market.’
‘A first rate clerking team who are straightforward and easy to deal with.’
4 Stone Buildings
4 Stone Buildings' combined strengths in commercial and Chancery cases make it a compelling choice for major fraud trials. The overlap into areas such as offshore, insolvency, and company law also ensures its members offer clients a broad spread of relevant expertise. Testament to the strengths of its members are leading roles on major cases such as Autonomy Corporation v Lynch, a case concerning the Hewlett-Packard's purchase of the company, in which Richard Hill QC lead a team of three members on behalf of the defendant; the civil litigation sits against a backdrop of the US government's request for Lynch's extradition. Jonathan Crow QC was instructed by the Secretary of State for Health in Secretary of State for Health v Servier Laboratories Ltd, which went to the Supreme Court following the claim that Servier had overcharged the NHS, having allegedly wrongly secured extensions to its patents.
Testimonials
Set
‘4 Stone Buildings are a top flight set of barristers with real depth of quality and experience. They are consistently at the top end of reported cases and are a first port of call for almost all matters.’
‘Stone Buildings has several excellent senior barristers to fill the shoes of Robert Miles QC, who has now joined the bench. They are particularly strong on Chancery matters but are comfortable with commercial cases as well.’
Clerking
‘Very efficient and helpful.’
‘David Goddard runs a tight, responsive ship.’
‘Excellent. David Goddard has been ably assisted over more recent times and their clerking is both sensitive as well as pragmatic.’
‘Ben Lashmar is an excellent clerk and looks after us very well.’
7 King's Bench Walk
7 King's Bench Walk is 'a really good set with several top notch practitioners' who are rapidly building a strong presence in the civil fraud space. Silks such as David Allen QC are especially active in this area, as demonstrated by his role on PDVSA Servicios SA v Petrosaudi Oil Services in which he is leading Michael Ryan in the defence of PetroSaudi - a case concerning the enforcement of an arbitration award, where it is alleged that funds earmarked to pay it are proceeds of the 1MDB fraud. Another highlight was the Brilliante Virtuoso case, a shipping insurance claim involving allegations of a fake Somali pirate attack, in which Jonathan Gaisman QC , Richard Waller QC and Keir Howie represented the insurers.
Testimonials
Set
‘7KBW has an excellent up and coming civil fraud practice. One of our go-to sets.’
‘Excellent set – highest quality.’
‘7 KBW are a very good set with strength in depth from QCs down to Juniors. They offer excellent email circulars on recent developments in case law and industry updates.’
‘Strength in depth at all levels and very user friendly. They have an excellent range of talented juniors.’
‘They are keen to develop their fraud offering and given that they have some very clever commercial counsel and are increasingly involved in major fraud cases, I think they will achieve success in developing into a leading set in the area.’
Clerking
‘A great team of senior clerks with real strength in depth.’
‘The clerks room at 7KBW are old school – they go out of their way to help solicitors. They also charge sensibly!’
‘Particular praise to Gary Rose, who is amazing at what he does.’
‘Bernie Hyatt – Hugely experienced. Very clear when agreeing brief fees.’
‘The clerks’ room at 7KBW provide an efficient and friendly service. They are extremely professional and adapted well to remote working. I have worked predominantly with Bernie Hyatt and Gary Rose who are both provide an excellent service.’
South Square
South Square has a good track record for major fraud disputes, particularly those with a significant insolvency or offshore component - areas in which the set excels. The set's members can regularly be found on some of the largest cases to hit the market. Tom Smith QC has made an especially good name for himself in this area and is lead counsel (with Richard Fisher QC and Robert Amey in support) to the Madoff feeder fund, Primeo, in its billion dollar claim against its former administrator and custodian, HSBC, for fraud and negligence. Smith QC and Felicity Toube QC are also representing the Abu Dhabi-headquartered and formerly London-listed health care company, NMC Group, and its administrators, on fraud issues emanating from its administration.
Testimonials
Set
‘We work a lot with South Square, particularly on large scale complex commercial litigation and insolvency cases, usually with an international element. They are also strong on fraud cases.’
‘South Square has a very strong bench for civil fraud lawyers.’
‘They are an excellent insolvency and chancery set.’
Clerking
‘The clerks at South Square are responsive, and Marco Malatesta is commercial and practical in all my dealings with him.’
‘The South Square clerks are always extremely responsive and helpful.’
‘Excellent service.’
‘The clerks are friendly and responsive.’