Chambers of Howard Stevens KC

Charlotte is an award-winning Barrister and CMC Accredited Mediator who enjoys a broad national and international commercial and commercial chancery litigation and arbitration practice across all of her practice areas.

Charlotte has a particular specialism in financial services disputes including but not limited to acting for banks, pension funds, asset managers and insurers in commercial litigation and in relation to contentious regulatory matters involving regulatory authorities such as the Bank of England, the Prudential Regulation Authority (“PRA”), the Financial Conduct Authority, the Financial Ombudsman Service and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme amongst others.  Charlotte is sought after as a Leading Junior in Banking and Financial Services (including consumer credit) (Legal 500 2025).

Charlotte regularly acts as sole counsel on a range of matters. She also has extensive experience in acting in large multi-disciplinary teams by virtue of her experience of being an employed barrister at the Bank of England, the UK’s central bank, and multinational award-winning law firm, Pinsent Masons LLP.

Charlotte is passionate about advocacy which is why she has taught pupils and new practitioners through the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn for over half a decade.

Charlotte is also an ACCA Legal Advisor as part of her broader disciplinary and regulatory practice.

Charlotte accepts appointments as a mediator and an arbitrator. She also accepts instructions on a direct access basis and/or to provide advice on non-contentious matters, notably as they relate to financial services and regulatory matters.

Charlotte is proud to be of Vincentian heritage and entitled to Vincentian nationality meaning that she can be admitted to the Bars of several Caribbean countries to practise law generally. Charlotte often works on matters arising from the Caribbean, in particular the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands and St Vincent and the Grenadines and is keen to continue to develop her practice in this regard.

Charlotte is also Chambers’ Pro Bono Champion in association with the Bar’s National Pro Bono Charity Advocate (https://weareadvocate.org.uk/)

Recent cases of interest:

• Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse International & Ors [2024] EWHC 1957 (Comm): acting on behalf of the Credit Suisse Deal Team (led by Peter Knox KC and Rupert Butler, Leverets Group) in a multi-billion-dollar civil fraud claim concerning the enforceability of state guarantees.
• Currently acting for the Claimant/Appellant in Blower v Canfield which is a professional negligence against in respect to solicitors and conflicts of interest (ongoing)
• Acting for a director in respect of allegations of misfeasance and directors’ disqualification claims in relation to Covid-19 Bounce Back Loan (ongoing).
• Acting in an unfair prejudice claim in connection with a business regulated by the Care Quality Commission (ongoing)
• Acting for a director and their company in respect of a referral to the Pensions Ombudsman alleging pensions liberation related fraud (ongoing).
• Advising on a banking business transfer pursuant to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and the enforcement of English judgments in an offshore jurisdiction.
• Acting for the Debtor in bankruptcy petitions concerning a petition debt of over £700M and subsequently dealing with an appeal in respect of the Court’s jurisdiction, the dismissal of an IVA interim order application and points about the service of proceedings
• Hussain v Rezaie & Malhotra – Successfully representing the Claimant in a pro bono cryptocurrency civil fraud case. The claim concerned the tort for deceit, failure of basis and unlawful means conspiracy. Charlotte secured a 5 figure costs order for the Access to Justice Foundation
• Successfully resisted a bankruptcy petition on behalf of a litigant in person in connection with alleged outstanding council tax liability.
• Advising an international mining company about the effectiveness of a compromise from an English law perspective.