William Hibbert > Chambers of Charles Gibson KC > London, England > Barrister Profile
Henderson Chambers Offices
Henderson Chambers
2 HARCOURT BUILDINGS, TEMPLE
LONDON
EC4Y 9DB
England
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William Hibbert
Position
Specialist in commercial aspects of consumer-facing finance and financial services (including consumer credit, mortgages and banking) and consumer protection law (including unfair contract terms, unfair commercial practices, advertising, package holidays and timeshare). Also food law, food labelling, cosmetics and medicines.
Reported cases include:
Popely v Scott (2001) 165 JP 742 – reliance on legal advice as due diligence;
Director General of Fair Trading v First National Bank plc [2002] 1 AC 481 – analysis of Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations;
Wilson v First County Trust Ltd (No 2) [2002] QB 74 (CA), [2004] 1 AC 816 (HL) – whether irredeemable unenforceability under Consumer Credit Act compatible with Human Rights Act;
Uren v First National Home Finance Ltd [2005] EWHC 2529 (Ch) (Times 17th November 2005) – no free-standing claim of “unjust enrichment”;
Goshawk Dedicated (No 2) Ltd v Governor and Company of the Bank of Scotland [2006] 2 AER 610 – wording of prescribed notices of cancellation rights under Consumer Credit Act;
Office of Fair Trading v Lloyds TSB Bank Ltd [2005] 1 AER 843 (QBD Comm), [2006] 2 AER 821 (CA), [2008] 1 AC 318 (HL) – lender’s liability under s.75 Consumer Credit Act for credit card transactions financing foreign transactions;
Conister Trust Ltd v John Hardman & Co [2009] CCLR 4 and Sutherland Professional Funding Ltd v Bakewells [2014] CTLC 1- solicitor’s liability for client’s litigation funding agreement that was unenforceable under the Consumer Credit Act;
Meah v GE Money Home Finance Ltd [2013] 1 P&CR DG 18 – mortgagee’s liability in respect of valuation of repossessed property;
RTA (Business Consultants) Ltd v Bracewell [2015] Bus LR 800 – sole trader selling his business not a “consumer”, but sale agent’s contract void for illegality because of non-compliance with money laundering regulations;
Warwickshire CC v Halfords Autocentres Ltd [2019] 1 W.L.R. 3597 – Trading Standards Officer’s test purchase can establish unfair commercial practice in relation to supplies to consumers..
Career
Called 1979.
Memberships
London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association; Food Law Group. Affiliate member of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute
Education
Charterhouse, Worcester College, Oxford.
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Consumer
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 2William Hibbert –Henderson Chambers ‘William is fantastically responsive and available. His advice is always clear.’
Henderson Chambers garners praise as a ‘leading set of consumer finance regulatory barristers‘, however members are instructed by local authorities, private individuals and government entities across a wide spectrum of consumer law work. Toby Riley-Smith KC is ‘incredibly diligent and hard-working; he puts in enormous effort to ensure that all aspects of the case have been thoroughly considered and that no points are forgotten‘. Henry Warwick KC is a specialist in consumer finance matters, and William Hibbert is very experienced in advising on consumer credit and consumer protection regulatory issues.
London Bar > Financial services regulation
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 2London Bar > Banking and finance (including consumer credit)
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 2Henderson Chambers is described by one client as ‘one of – if not the – leading set of consumer finance‘ and is focused on advising on consumer credit and consumer protection, with members acting predominantly for banks. Some of the set’s highlights include advising and acting for the UK’s five largest retail banks on a range of matters, including financing of FSMA regulated mortgage contract businesses. Toby Riley-Smith KC has experience in litigation involving consumer credit and hire agreements, alongside William Hibbert being a leading junior in consumer credit and consumer-facing financial services, including regulated credit and secured borrowing. Julia Smith is a specialist in banking and financial services, regularly receiving instructions advising banks and other businesses as to issues arising under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.