3 Verulam Buildings is well-versed in professional negligence cases spanning the financial, insurance and legal sectors. The set is also known for its expertise in tax-related negligence. Andrew Onslow KC is acting for the solicitors in Clifford Chance v Société Générale, a dispute involving allegations of negligence in Commercial Court litigation, with an issue involving if the firm’s relationship with the bank required the negligence case to be heard by the French or English courts. Hefin Rees KC leads on Goodman v DMS Governance Limited, a high value claim alleging professional negligence and fraud, which raises questions on how vicarious liability Supreme Court cases in England should be applied in the Cayman Islands – the matter is the latest round of the long-running imbroglio concerning The Axiom Fund, a supposed litigation funder, whose founder was sentenced to fourteen years imprisonment in England in 2022.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ' The clerks are very good. James Kelly is always good and Ben Hart is very proactive.'
- 'Fabulous set with strength and depth.'
- 'All the clerks are helpful and responsive.'
- 'Proactive, helpful and informed.'
- '3 Verulam Buildings are top of the tree for so many areas of work.'
- 'They have ferociously bright juniors and star quality from top to bottom.'
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.
Thomas Weitzman KC
Matthew Hardwick KC
'He is quick to grasp the issues in a complex situation and to understand both the legal and commercial context of the matter.'
Hefin Rees KC
Ali Malek KC
David Head KC
‘David is technically excellent and is also very user friendly, clients like him and he gets results. Always a pleasure to work with him.’
Adrian Beltrami KC
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.
James Sharpe
Saaman Pourghadiri
‘He is very approachable, friendly and a delight to work with. His drafting skills are excellent and he is able to grasp complicated issues very quickly.’
Pia Dutton
‘She is intellectually formidable and able to grapple with some hugely complicated legal issues.’
Timothy Killen
‘Tim is a powerful advocate who has an uncanny ability to make what might not seem obvious to many, obvious.’
Lisa Lacob
George McPherson
‘George is an outstanding barrister, he is calm under pressure and is brilliant with clients.’
Theodor van Sante
Peter Ratcliffe
Richard Hanke
'Richard is wonderful: as personable and pleasant to deal with as could be imagined; yet razor-sharp; exceptionally diligent; strategically spot-on; and utterly dependable.'