Set Profile > Gough Square Chambers > London, England

Gough Square Chambers Offices

Chambers of Kevin de Haan QC and Jonathan Goulding
Gough Square Chambers
6-7 GOUGH SQUARE
LONDON
EC4A 3DE
England
Visit website 020 7353 0924 020 7353 2221

Gough Square Chambers > The Legal 500 Rankings

Consumer Tier 1

A true specialist set, covering all areas of consumer law, Gough Square Chambers has vast expertise in both civil and criminal matters. Consumer credit, financial services, consumer protection and regulatory are the main areas of instruction. Jonathan Kirk QC and Iain Macdonald acted for Tesco in Tesco Stores Limited v Birmingham City Council in a dispute around the use-by date labelling under EU regulation. Jonathan Goulding has been advising on online sales practices, while  Cameron Crowe is noted for trading standards offences. Kevin De Haan QC has long-standing expertise in matters relating to pharmaceutical product safety, as well as Fintech and cryptocurrencies.

Leading Silks

Jonathan Kirk QC - Gough Square Chambers ‘The predominant silk. An expert of civil and criminal consumer law.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Kevin de Haan QC - Gough Square Chambers ‘Experienced in a broad range of consumer law issues at national and European levels. Helpful and knowledgeable.’
Ranked: Tier 2

Leading Juniors

Jonathan Goulding - Gough Square Chambers ‘Very responsive and pragmatic in his approach and a good team player, very strong on the law.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Iain Macdonald - Gough Square Chambers ‘Considered and careful. Master of detail. Excellent tactical judgement.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Fred Philpott - Gough Square Chambers ‘He has seen it all. He can cut through mist and get straight to the key point very quickly.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Simon Popplewell - Gough Square Chambers ‘Very approachable and his advice is clear and business-focused.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Cameron Crowe - Gough Square Chambers ‘Extensive knowledge of the law, extremely incisive and insightful.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Kate Urell - Gough Square Chambers ‘She has enormous skill and tenacity which she combines with great client and corporate care. She works with corporate clients in a fantastically personal way to ensure that the result is obtained.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Daniel Brayley - Gough Square Chambers ‘His analysis and advice is of very high quality, he is quick and flexible enough to pick up a wide variety of work.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Julian Gun Cuninghame - Gough Square Chambers ‘Has a good practice, thoroughly deserving of recognition.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Anna Medvinskaia - Gough Square Chambers ‘An expert on consumer law issues, and her written and oral advocacy is clear and persuasive.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Bradley Say - Gough Square Chambers ‘Ability to distil complex issues into a manageable dimension. Calmness and clarity of thought and speech make him an impressive professional.’
Ranked: Tier 3

Financial services regulation Tier 2

Gough Square Chambers is a 'very good set for complex regulatory issues' and 'financial services regulated lending work'. This includes high-end advisory support, as well as contentious dealings with the financial regulators. Stephen Neville is active on the non-contentious side and advised Aldermore Bank on the £380m MotoNovo Securitisation of car finance hire purchase agreements. On the disputes side Jonathan Kirk QC and Thomas Samuels represented the self-invested pension plan administrator in R (Berkeley Burke SIPP Administration Ltd) v FOS, FCA and Charlton, which went to the Court of Appeal. Fred Philpott and Kate Urell were also involved in CFL Finance Ltd v Bass.

Leading Silks

Jonathan Kirk QC - Gough Square Chambers ‘He thinks like a judge and has faultless judgement when making the calls in litigation.’
Ranked: Tier 3

Leading Juniors

Ruth Bala - Gough Square Chambers ‘Her advocacy is persuasive, powerful and pertinent, she is an absolute pleasure to work with and her hard work and commitment are outstanding.’
Ranked: Tier 2

Iain MacDonald - Gough Square Chambers ‘He is responsive and knowledgeable. Incredibly approachable. Excellent service and I would highly recommend him.’

Ranked: Tier 2
Fred Philpott - Gough Square Chambers ‘He can cut through mist and get straight to the key point very quickly, and is also very personable and approachable.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Simon Popplewell - Gough Square Chambers ‘It is difficult to overstate the breadth and depth of Simon's knowledge of financial services regulation, he is able to use this knowledge to provide clear, pragmatic advice that is second to none.’
Ranked: Tier 2
James Ross - Gough Square Chambers ‘Incredibly user friendly and always across the detail of a dispute.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Daniel Brayley - Gough Square Chambers ‘A very good communicator and is extremely easy to work with; he works in a collaborative way and is a good team player.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Stephen Neville - Gough Square Chambers ‘Stephen has a superb technical knowledge of the law and regulation, and applies his knowledge in a considered and practical way and understands the broader context in which his expertise is applied.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Thomas Samuels - Gough Square Chambers ‘Very intelligent and hardworking junior, blessed with good judgement.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Kate Urell - Gough Square Chambers ‘Extremely approachable and really technical over a broad area.’
Ranked: Tier 3

Licensing

Leading Silks

Kevin de Haan QC - Gough Square Chambers ‘Helpful and knowledgeable.’
Ranked: Tier 2

Banking and finance (including consumer credit) Tier 3

Gough Square Chambers is 'excellent for any consumer credit or mortgage regulatory advice' and clients appreciate its 'perfect balance of seniors and juniors'. Clients also credit 'a real sense of team in chambers', and the fact that more senior members such as Fred Philpott 'has helped pass the baton to junior members where appropriate'. Notable case highlights include Kerrigan & Ors v Elevate Credit, in which Ruth Bala acted for the defendant, and Milne v Open Access Finance Ltd where Iain MacDonald also represented the defendant. Thomas Samuels also achieved a successful result for the defendant in Promontoria (Henrico) Ltd v Samra.

Leading Juniors

Ruth Bala - Gough Square Chambers ‘Ruth's knowledge of consumer credit and banking and finance regulation more broadly is vast and her appetite to review all recent case law and other relevant decisions means she is a true expert in this field.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Iain MacDonald - Gough Square Chambers ‘Very good all rounder - Considered and careful, master of detail, and excellent tactical judgement.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Fred Philpott - Gough Square Chambers ‘As the grandfather of consumer law Fred has seen it all.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Simon Popplewell - Gough Square Chambers ‘The absolute go-to barrister for consumer credit issues - he is able to explain things simply and clearly; he also has a pragmatic, commercial approach, which clients really appreciate.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Stephen Neville - Gough Square Chambers ‘He communicates well with clients and is able to explain technical matters in a way the clients, without technical expertise, are able to understand - he is a pleasure to work with.’
Ranked: Tier 3
James Ross - Gough Square Chambers ‘He is particularly experienced in dealing with consumer credit disputes and is a go-to junior for litigation arising in this arena.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Lee Finch - Gough Square Chambers ‘Has an excellent attention to detail and delivers the highest-quality product within extremely short timescales.’
Ranked: Tier 4
Thomas Samuels - Gough Square Chambers ‘Combines very strong advocacy with a very intellectual approach.’
Ranked: Tier 4

Set overviews: England and Wales

Gough Square Chambers is a leading set for consumer, food, and trading standards matters as well as financial services regulation. In recent news, Cameron Crowe has been appointed a Recorder, sitting on the Midlands Circuit in crime.

Clerks:

Bob Weekes (Senior Clerk);  Richard Bryant (First Clerk);  Jack Bradshaw (Second Clerk);  Evan Lloyd (Junior Clerk)

Testimonials

Clerks:

Excellent service from the clerks, in particular Jack Bradshaw and Bob Weekes.

Set:

Gough Square is a go to set for consumer credit act disputes and they have solid strength in depth of resource in this arena.

Gough Square is an excellent point for any consumer credit or mortgage regulatory advice. They have a number of excellent barristers, across varying levels of experience.

I have worked with this Set for more than 20 years and am always surprised by the level of expertise that constantly emerges. Without doubt, they remain at the top of their field. I always recommend them.

I would not hesitate to instruct any member of the set as their reputation precedes them.

The Service has used a number of barristers from the set down to more junior members to assist with investigations and disclosure. All have been of a very high calibre.

Very good set for complex regulatory issues.

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: Chambers’ 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.

Chambers’ 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 Email 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
Claire Andrews photo Claire Andrews Barrister and ADR practitioner specialising in consumer and regulatory law with a… View Profile
Ruth Bala photo Ruth Bala Ruth has built up a specialist practice in regulated lending, retail banking… View Profile
Mr Daniel Brayley photo Mr Daniel Brayley Daniel accepts instructions for advisory, drafting and court work in all of… View Profile
Lee Finch photo Lee Finch Barrister specialising in financial services, consumer and regulatory law. Lee has specific… View Profile
Sabrina Goodchild photo Sabrina Goodchild Barrister specialising in financial services, general regulatory/consumer law and regulatory crime.  Contributing editor… View Profile
Julian Gun Cuninghame photo Julian Gun Cuninghame Barrister specialising in banking, consumer credit, property, professional negligence and disciplinary; employment. Julian acts… View Profile
Josephine Hayes photo Josephine Hayes Barrister specialising in property litigation and general Chancery. Represents and advises both… View Profile
Robin Kingham photo Robin Kingham Specialist regulatory barrister with particular experience of consumer credit, regulated lending, financial… View Profile
Anna Medvinskaia photo Anna Medvinskaia Anna practises in all areas of consumer and regulatory law. View Profile
Stephen Neville photo Stephen Neville Stephen Neville has specialised in Financial Services Law for over 25 years.He… View Profile
Mr Simon Popplewell photo Mr Simon Popplewell Barrister specialising in consumer credit, financial services, consumer and regulatory law. View Profile
James Ross photo James Ross Barrister specialising in financial services, consumer credit, consumer and regulatory law. James… View Profile
Thomas Samuels photo Thomas Samuels Thomas is a financial services and consumer/regulatory law specialist. His clients include… View Profile
Mr Bradley Say photo Mr Bradley Say Barrister specialising in consumer and regulatory law with a bias towards consumer… View Profile
Kate Urell photo Kate Urell Barrister specialising in consumer and regulatory law, in particular financial services. View Profile

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