Banking and finance (including consumer credit)

3 Verulam Buildings

Noted for being one of the ‘go-to chambers for banking disputes,’ 3 Verulam Buildings houses members that are regularly instructed on complex, high-value claims, with clients benefitting from the set’s related expertise in other practice areas, ranging from commercial litigation, to civil fraud. Members are experienced in a wide range of banking and finance-related issues and services, including syndicated lending, securitisations and derivatives instruments. The set was recently involved in the case of Farol & Others v Clydesdale Bank and National Australia Bank which, led by Andrew Onslow KC, with Lisa Lacob, Liisa Lahti and Emma Hughes, saw the team act for over eight hundred claimants in large group proceedings concerning the breakage costs charged to customers of Clydesdale on early termination of tailored business loans, as well as the trial of four test claims. Other notable members include Hannah Glover, who is acting for one of the lead defendant groups in claims brought by the Danish tax authority in SKAT v Solo Capital Partners; and Rajesh Pillai KC, who has an active cross-border practice.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

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Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

'The clerking team at 3VB is highly responsive to enquiries, easy to negotiate with and very approachable. Stephen Penson is particularly impressive, he understands exactly who his clients are looking for and goes out of his way to provide a top tier service.'
'Tremendous banking set.'
'The clerks are very commercial, user-friendly and helpful to law firms. They genuinely try to make it work for law firms and their clients.'
'3 Verulam Buildings is very strong in financial services and fraud.'
'3 Verulam Buildings are the go-to set for commercial court and financial list work, with all their barristers - from the most junior to the most senior - being at the top of their game.'

Lawyers

Leading silks

KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.

Adrian Beltrami KC

‘Adrian is one of the true heavyweights of the commercial and especially banking Bar. He has gravitas in spades and a huge wealth of experience. He is unflappable; a generally softly spoken and calm advocate, meticulously and politely demolishing the side other side’s arguments.’

Ali Malek KC

‘A trusted advisor to clients who is commercial and direct in his advice. He is very hands-on even where supported by juniors and remains at all times aware of all moving parts. His advocacy skills are impressive as he deploys his direct, to the point approach to his oral submissions too.’

Ewan McQuater KC

Ewan is a leading banking silk. He is clever and articulate with a wealth of experience at the top of the commercial Bar. Always well-prepared, committed and focused with good strategic and tactical judgement.’

Andrew Onslow KC

Andrew is a superb KC and team leader, able to work on the largest matters of greatest significance to clients. He is a highly effective advocate, and able to persuade judges that his is the most trustworthy voice in the room. He is also excellent at predicting and reading judges.’

David Quest KC

‘David is an excellent advocate, being incredibly precise and persuasive.’

Jonathan Davies-Jones KC

‘His performance is nothing short of exceptional. I would have absolutely no hesitation in instructing him again.’

Peter De Verneuil Smith KC

‘Hugely experienced in consumer finance group litigation. A fantastic strategist. User friendly and great in conference. A shining star in his field.’

Matthew Hardwick KC

Absolutely at the top of his game and produces excellent results. His advocacy is always assured and his drafting is top notch.’

David Head KC

Adam Kramer KC

Adam is the best example of a modern silk: approachable and down-to-earth, user-friendly, great fun to work with, no airs and graces, terrifyingly bright, relaxed and confident on his feet, and oozing natural charisma and charm.’

Hodge Malek KC

‘Excellent and insightful as well as very practical in his advice given. He is hands on and able to explain the legal position clearly to the lay client. One of the UK’s best in his field!’

Tom Montagu-Smith KC

He is a very good advocate with sound judgment and is also a good lawyer.’

Jonathan Nash KC

Jamie Riley KC

Jamie has the ability to use a turn of phrase to turn complexity into clarity within a single line. He is compelling and authoritative in advocacy, and excellent in written work and analytical advice, particularly pleadings and written arguments. He is a go-to silk for best results.’

Richard Salter KC

Richard speaks the same language as the senior judges so they listen to what he has to say. He is hugely persuasive in his arguments and very understated. He is a true class act.’

Nicholas Craig KC

Nick’s particular strength is an advocacy style that is both forceful and persuasive but measured and rational. It is a winning combination which allows him to cross-examine skillfully and make carefully constructed legal submissions.’

Christopher Harris KC

Rajesh Pillai KC

Raj is an outstanding advocate, combining fierce intellect with tactical brilliance.'

Ian Wilson KC

‘Ian is very bright, tactically astute and a pleasure to work with. He is excellent with clients and very user friendly particularly for a silk. He has a calm and measured advocacy style, his submissions are always very well prepared and has an excellent understanding of the court. Strongly recommended.’

Catherine Gibaud KC

Catherine is very hard working and analytical. She is a specialist in complex financial disputes. Her advocacy is a model of clarity.'

Saima Hanif KC

Saima is an excellent combination of thoughtful and reflective but ultimately incredibly robust and compelling in the advice she gives. She is able to balance technical legal and policy points deftly into excellent analysis. Very user-friendly.’

Matthew Parker KC

‘Eye for detail. Good commercial awareness. Easy attitude with clients.’

Andrew Sutcliffe KC

‘Andrew has a gravitas that means he can be put in front of a board of directors and immediately command their respect. His work as a deputy high court judge gives him a perspective that others lack. His advocacy is of the highest order and the fact that he is also a warm and kind person makes him very easy to work with.’

Leading juniors

Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.

William Edwards

Scott Ralston

‘Fiercely intelligent senior junior. His forensic analysis is vital for any complex litigation. A real brain box.’

Christopher Bond

Easy to work with.'

Christopher Burdin

Excellent written work. Encyclopaedic memory. Very approachable. Would instruct him again in a flash.’

William Day

Will is superb. He delivers common sense advice with perfect clarity and concision. His straight-forward manner is truly refreshing. You would be forgiven for forgetting his fierce intellect, given his knack for putting clients at ease. On his feet, he is dynamic and unflappable, even in the trickiest of situations. A versatile and valued advocate, who will soon achieve stellar status.’

Charlotte Eborall

‘Charlotte is extremely impressive and instils huge confidence in her solicitors. She listens, in contrast to other senior juniors who just press ahead with how they wish to do things. Charlotte strikes the perfect balance of being incredibly sharp, pragmatic and client friendly. She is an excellent advocate; measured and gauges her audience well which plays well with the judiciary.’

Richard Hanke

‘Richard Hanke is one of the foremost specialist banking juniors at the Bar. Anything he doesn’t know about banking law is not worth knowing. Extremely calm under pressure, a delight to work with. Superb on paper and a quietly effective advocate who is an excellent cross-examiner. A go-to choice for any complex retail banking litigation. Leaders seek him out and solicitors love him: a fabulous junior.’

Ian Higgins

Lisa Lacob

‘A force of nature. Fearless and calm under pressure. A forceful, effective advocate who will fight tooth and nail for her clients. A standout claimant junior who will go the extra mile. A good team player, who will carry her leader where necessary. Underestimate her at your peril.’

Liisa Lahti

‘She is passionate and fights very hard for her clients. She did a fair bit of the advocacy at trial despite being led by a silk and was impressive on her feet. She was always good humoured too.’

David Simpson

‘David is one of our favourite barristers to work with. He is responsive, collaborative, clever, succinct on paper and is simply a standout star in a very impressive set. He is skilled in dealing with clients and a fearless advocate. He always has time to talk through a difficult issue and his support and assistance over the years has been much relied upon and appreciated.’

Adam Temple

‘Works very hard. Always available to talk to you. Bright, but also pragmatic. Highly recommended.’

Cleon Catsambis

‘Very commercial in his advice. Ability to distil complicated facts and law into digestible advice and provide a clear strategy.'

Alexia Knight

‘A superb advocate and strategist.’

Michael Lazarus

James Potts

‘Very hard working and technically able barrister - a good advocate.'

Victor Steinmetz

Victor is a delight to work with. He is all over the detail, and understand what clients want to see. He always makes himself available and helps to answer the most difficult questions. Victor is an absolute star.’

Sarah Tulip

‘Sarah is an astute and analytical lawyer who has been exceptional at maintaining an overview of the case and its various facts, whilst also focusing her advice on specific issues and ensuring that the case is run efficiently and to the best level.’

Mark Wassouf

Mark is thorough, pragmatic and has a good commercial instinct. He is clearly extremely sharp and his legal analysis is well-reasoned, solution-focused and clearly articulated.’

Rebecca Zaman

‘She is a can-do junior who is easy to work with and is willing to roll her sleeves up and be part of the team. She is also an able advocate.’

Philip Hinks

‘Experienced senior junior; strong all-round lawyer and good advocate.’

George McPherson

George is brilliant. He is technically very strong and good on his feet. He has endless patience with clients, a good manner and works extremely hard.’

Teniola Onabanjo

Teniola has excellent and persuasive advocacy skills. She is able to deliver coherent, well structured and concise submissions.’

Anthony Pavlovich

Anthony is very good at providing clear and concise advice on complex topics, and preparing short and effective statements.’

Theodor van Sante

Theo is an excellent junior, with an outstanding knowledge of technical regulatory issues particularly in the fields of financial services and insurance.’

Rising stars

Rising stars at the Bar are defined as barristers between four and eight years’ call who are seen as up-and-coming members of the Bar in their respective practice areas by clients and peers alike. They will already be instructed in high-profile, complex, and high-value contentious and non-contentious matters, working with and opposite more experienced leading counsel.