Set Profile > Gough Square Chambers > London, England
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 'offers an unrivalled strength in depth in this area' with members covering all areas of consumer law at both silk and junior level. Among its recent highlight cases, Jonathan Kirk QC led Iain MacDonald in acting for Tesco in Tesco Stores Limited v Birmingham City Council, Birmingham Magistrates’ Court, a landmark food law case regarding labelling of use-by dates. Anna Medvinskaia has also acted for a supermarket in a case of a similar subject matter. Covid-19 inevitably impacted the market and in related work, Julian Gun Cuninghame's counsel to the Marshall family in Arkin v Marshall was the lead case on the coronavirus possession stay when it went before the Court of Appeal.
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Undoubtedly the best set for consumer work.‘
‘Have long been one of the strongest sets on the consumer law front and thoroughly deserving of their reputation. Their slightly traditional approach is actually a strength.‘
‘Gough Square Chambers is the best set for consumer law. Every barrister is a genuine expert in the field. They offer an unrivalled strength in depth in this area.‘
‘Not sure there are any better sets for consumer and consumer credit work.‘
‘Very strong on trading law and food safety.‘
Clerking
‘Bob Weekes leads a reliably professional clerks’ room and is ably supported by Richard Bryant and Jack Bradshaw.‘
‘Bob Weekes is always responsive and brings vast experience to a professional clerk’s room.‘
‘The clerks and the service they provide is excellent and well organised. In particular I have had regular dealings with Jack Bradshaw who I have found to be extremely helpful and accommodating.‘
‘The clerks will always endeavour to accommodate and Jack Bradshaw is an outstanding, attentive second clerk.‘
‘A proper old school personal touch and desire to form long term relationships with instructing solicitors.‘
London Bar > Financial services regulation Tier 2
Gough Square Chambers is 'a clear leader in the area of financial services'. Members assist banks and financial services providers with a range of contentious and non-contentious work. Recently Jonathan Kirk QC, Fred Philpott and Kate Urell appeared for various parties in different stages of CFL Finance Ltd v Bass, Gertner & Others, which concerns if a Tomlin order requiring payments in installments was a regulated credit agreement under the Consumer Credit Act 1974; the matter reached the Court of Appeal. Simon Popplewell has a solid track record in handling cases concerning FCA challenges.
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘Gough Square is an excellent set, with lots of barristers who are able to provide good quality advice and advocacy in this area. The clerks are amazing, especially Bob Weekes. If counsel is unavailable they are always able to find an alternative. Very high quality of service.’
‘Fabulous client focused chambers.’
‘A clear leader in the area of financial services.’
Clerking
‘The clerks will always endeavour to accommodate and Jack Bradshaw is an outstanding, attentive second clerk.’
‘The are superb. They are responsive with a quick turnaround and extremely flexible to work to meet with our clients expectations and approach.’
‘Easy to deal with and responsive.’
London Bar > Banking and finance (including consumer credit) Tier 3
Gough Square Chambers 'are specialists in consumer law and have a number of extremely skilled barristers with varying post call years. There is always someone available and turnaround times for advice are impressive.' The set's relatively small size gives it an edge in terms of customer service. Some of the set's juniors such as Fred Philpott have silk-like status in the consumer credit market - he recently led Lee Finch in CFL v Gertner before the Court of Appeal, a claim concerning the question of whether the schedule to a Tomlin Order might constitute a regulated credit agreement. Other leading individuals include Iain MacDonald who represented the defendant in Milne v Open Access Finance Ltd, a dispute about the scope of liability of a peer-to-peer lending platform. Simon Popplewell also had a significant role for Bank of Scotland in Various SAM Borrowers v BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No 1 PLC & others, involving a challenge to shared appreciation mortgages.
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
Set
‘They are the leaders in relation to consumer finance and related matters.’
‘Fabulous client focused chambers.’
‘Very user friendly and cooperative. They are my “go to” set for any and all Consumer Credit queries.’
‘Will bend over backwards to help out where necessary. The leading small set on consumer credit and financial mis-selling.’
‘The set as a whole is knowledgeable about financial services regulation and banking litigation and are good value for money. They offer a good range of training programmes which are easy to digest.’
Clerking
‘The clerks will always endeavour to accommodate and Jack Bradshaw is an outstanding, attentive second clerk.’
‘The clerks are very knowledgeable in consumer credit regulation and have been with Gough Square for a significant period. They know the subject matter and can proactively suggest and recommend which Counsel may be best to work on a matter.’
‘Bob Weekes is extremely helpful and responsive.’
‘The clerks are very responsive and friendly. They will go out of their way to assist. Jack Bradshaw always replies to instructing solicitors promptly and is very helpful.’
‘They are superb. They are always at reach and responsive with a quick turnaround and extremely flexible to work to meet with our clients expectations and approach.’
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: Chambersâ 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.
Chambersâ 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 QC, Kevin (2000) | ||
| Members of Chambers | KIRK QC, Jonathan (1995) | ||
| 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 | SAMUELS, Thomas (2009) | ||
| Members of Chambers | FINCH, Lee (2010) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BRAYLEY, Daniel (2011) | ||
| Members of Chambers | COLEY, Michael (2011) | ||
| Members of Chambers | KINGHAM, Robin (2013) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GOODCHILD, Sabrina (2017) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LEWIN (MBE), Brian* | ||
| Members of Chambers | * Non-practising door tenants |
Barrister Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
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Claire Andrews | Barrister and ADR practitioner specialising in consumer and regulatory law with a… | View Profile |
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Ruth Bala | Ruth has built up a specialist practice in regulated lending, retail banking… | View Profile |
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Daniel Brayley | Daniel accepts instructions for advisory, drafting and court work in all of… | View Profile |
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Lee Finch | Barrister specialising in financial services, consumer and regulatory law. Lee has specific… | View Profile |
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Sabrina Goodchild | Barrister specialising in financial services, general regulatory/consumer law and regulatory crime. Contributing editor… | View Profile |
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Julian Gun Cuninghame | Barrister specialising in banking, consumer credit, property, professional negligence and disciplinary; employment. Julian acts… | View Profile |
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Josephine Hayes | Barrister specialising in property litigation and general Chancery. Represents and advises both… | View Profile |
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Robin Kingham | Specialist regulatory barrister with particular experience of consumer credit, regulated lending, financial… | View Profile |
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Anna Medvinskaia | Anna practises in all areas of consumer and regulatory law. | View Profile |
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Stephen Neville | Stephen Neville has specialised in Financial Services Law for over 25 years.He… | View Profile |
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Mr Simon Popplewell | Barrister specialising in consumer credit, financial services, consumer and regulatory law. | View Profile |
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James Ross | Barrister specialising in financial services, consumer credit, consumer and regulatory law. James… | View Profile |
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Thomas Samuels | Thomas is a financial services and consumer/regulatory law specialist. His clients include… | View Profile |
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Mr Bradley Say | Barrister specialising in consumer and regulatory law with a bias towards consumer… | View Profile |
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Kate Urell | Barrister specialising in consumer and regulatory law, in particular financial services. | View Profile |