James Duffy KC > Fountain Court Chambers > London, England > Barrister Profile

Fountain Court Chambers offers a broad range of expertise in the field of professional liability. Members of the set are frequently instructed in cases relating to professionals in the legal and financial sectors. Anneliese Day KC stands out for her expertise with claims relating to tax advice and allegedly negligent audits. Bankim Thanki KC brings his banking litigation expertise to his professional negligence practice; he was recently involved in Farol Holdings Limited and others v Clydesdale Bank PLC, National Australia Bank Limited, a complex class action case centering around tailored business loans where the claimants alleged negligence, misrepresentation, and breach of contract. James Duffy KC took silk in March 2024.

Rated highly for being a ‘leading set in banking work with strength in depth across all parts of the banking sector,’ Fountain Court Chambers handles all aspects of banking and finance matters, ranging from acting for and against large retail and investment banks, to representing their current and former customers in a wide variety of claims. In terms of banking disputes, members of chambers have been involved in a number of precedent setting cases, including NMC Healthcare and Others v Dubai Islamic Bank PJSC and Others, which saw Bankim Thanki KC, Henry King KC, Nico Leslie, Alexandra Whelan and Damien Bruneau represent successful claimants in a dispute arising from competing claims regarding security arrangements over high-value loans. Other standout cases include Loreley Financing v Credit Suisse, where Patrick Goodall KC, Adam Sher, Laurie Brock and Marcus Field successfully acted for Credit Suisse in a claim relating to a CDO that it had entered into, which was linked to residential mortgage-backed securities. Richard Coleman KC and Patricia Robertson KC are noted for their work on a broad range of banking matters, while Rebecca Loveridge is praised as ‘responsive and dedicated,’ as well as being involved in a number of high-value and high-profile claims. James Duffy KC was appointed silk in 2024.

Fountain Court Chambers boasts ‘strength in depth and a roster of very impressive and talented barristers’, regularly appearing in high-profile disputes in the Commercial Court, Chancery Division, and international commercial arbitrations. Richard Handyside KC represented the claimant in Allianz v JD Williams, a case related to compensation paid to customers for the mis-selling of insurance products, while Laura John KC and Samuel Ritchie acted for the defendant. In NMC Healthcare v Dubai Islamic Bank and others, a significant dispute arising from the administration of the UAE-based healthcare group following the discovery of a multi-million-pound fraud within the business, Bankim Thanki KC and Nico Leslie represented the claimants. In Philipp v Barclays Bank, Patrick Goodall KC, David Murray, and Ian Bergson defended Barclays Bank in a Supreme Court case concerning the liability of banks to customers who fall victim to Authorised Push Payment frauds; the claimants unsuccessfully sought to extend the Quincecare duty into this context. James Duffy KC was appointed silk in March 2024.

Renowned for its ‘strength in depth for financial services work’, Fountain Court Chambers handles a wide range of civil fraud disputes both domestically and internationally, such as matters related to dishonest assistance, conspiracy, and breaches of fiduciary duty. Members of the set are frequently involved in bank-related fraud claims, concerning allegations of mis-selling, rate rigging, and misappropriation of assets. For example, Bankim Thanki KC, Patrick Goodall KC and Natasha Bennett acted for the defendants in Farol Holdings v Clydesdale Bank and National Australia Bank, a fraudulent misrepresentation claim brought by customers. In Gemini v Watson and Others, Bankim Thanki KC and Jeffrey Chapman KC represent the claimant in a case against individuals and entities that deceived an investment house into investing £70m into a fraudulent vehicle purportedly for FX trading, while Richard Handyside KC and Aaron Taylor act for the IronFX defendants. Richard Lissack KC and Leonora Sagan act for Vandaglas Group GmbH in a claim for breach of warranty under a share purchase agreement and unlawful means conspiracy against three defendants, accused of running a systematic fraud through their family-owned glass manufacturing business. James Duffy KC was appointed silk in March 2024.