Linda Saunt > 33 Chancery Lane > London, England > Barrister Profile

Linda Saunt

Position

As a mediator Linda is accredited by ADR Group for both commercial and family mediation work which enables her to offer a more flexible approach than the standard commercial mediation process.

Hybrid mediation permits the best of both worlds – joint meetings and private meetings can be on the same day or over a few weeks. She meets clients with their lawyers and on their own. The mediation is structured to suit the needs of the parties and the nature of the dispute rather than following a prescribed format.

Linda’s extensive experience as a barrister in litigating financial wrongdoing means that she has an excellent insight into resolving sensitive and complex issues. Her familiarity with intricate and heavyweight cases gives her the ability to absorb material quickly and effectively. This means she is highly sought after by parties needing advice at the early stages of disputes and investigations. When mediating she draws on her litigation skills and knowledge to help parties resolve their disputes without the risk and cost of going to trial.

She is highly regarded for her independence and integrity and as a barrister is often instructed as independent counsel advising on LPP in very high profile cases. Most recently working on Operation Northleigh.

Linda advocates mediation being used more in cases of financial wrongdoing and particularly where third parties claim an interest in assets subject to a confiscation order. Enforcement proceedings often run into long, complicated and expensive litigation. If those assets have a limited financial value then the time and costs of litigation are hard to justify. With Linda’s assistance as an independent mediator, parties can be helped to find a balanced solution that meets all parties’ requirements.

As a community mediator Linda specialises in inter-generational family disputes in East Sussex.

Linda spent 14 years in the Government Legal Service before coming to the Bar in 2002. While in the Central Confiscation Unit of the CPS Linda dealt with groundbreaking asset freezing cases on behalf of foreign governments including those concerning high profile politicians. As Legal Adviser to the Companies Investigation Branch of the DTI her main areas of responsibility were insider dealing, market manipulation, directors’ duties and illegal trading schemes. Again, her caseload included some of the most high profile cases of the day.

Being registered with the Bar Council for Direct Public Access means that any person (individual or corporate) may instruct Linda directly without going through a solicitor.

Linda acts as independent counsel advising on legal professional privilege and is frequently instructed in cases brought by all the leading prosecuting authorities including high profile/large volume cases such as the investigations into payments for peerages and phone hacking.

Her exceptional expertise is reflected in a busy practice advising on all aspects of asset forfeiture and confiscation, review of confiscation orders (certificate of inadequacy), contempt of High Court orders as well as fraud, money laundering and legal professional privilege.

A particular field of her expertise is cases in which third parties (companies, business partners, spouses) claim an interest in property that is the subject of a freezing or confiscation order.

Linda has appeared for the defence, prosecution, receivers and third parties in major cases before the High Court, Crown Court and Court of Appeal. She is also regularly instructed by professional clients who become involved in asset forfeiture cases.

Career

Called 1986.