Consumer Law | UK Bar

Gough Square regularly handles matters concerning health and safety, food and trading regulations, as well as a plethora of consumer credit cases. Sources praise the chambers as "the top set for consumer law." It undertakes both civil and criminal matters, regularly acting for businesses and individuals, along with local authorities. Instructing solicitors describe their expertise as "razor sharp" and point to the set's "responsive and well-informed clerking." Members regularly appear in the High Court and Court of Appeal. The set boasts one of the deepest benches in the area and is frequently instructed in the most significant matters of the day. By way of example, members acted in Operation Gilbert, a long running international consumer fraud case arising from a BBC Watchdog investigation, and in BA Cityflyer Ltd v Lipton and anor, a Supreme Court case determining whether crew illness amounts to extraordinary circumstances for the purposes of Regulation 261/2004 in determining traveller compensation post-Brexit.

5 Paper Buildings has tenants who are proficient in both criminal and civil consumer disputes. One client notes that "the set has a wide range of experience in consumer law and access to the necessary expertise." Members are often to be found prosecuting unfair trading offences cases on behalf of regulators and local councils, but also defend individuals against accusations of misconduct. They both prosecute and defend cases brought by regulatory bodies such as the Competition and Markets Authority, National Trading Standards, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and local trading standards departments nationwide. One individual at the set recently acted as counsel for the principal defendant in Operational Eiffel, a case concerning large-scale ticket reselling. He succeeded in persuading National Trading Standards to agree that the benefit accruing from the offence was merely £8 million when a figure of £36 million had originally been sought. Other members successfully prosecuted two defendants who committed a rogue trading scam against a vulnerable customer.

A "go-to set due to its highly expert, broad ranging counsel and consistency of talent," Henderson Chambers provides advice and representation across a broad range of civil and criminal consumer matters. It has members who are respected for their skill in consumer credit work, product liability litigation and cases concerning trading regulations. Clients range from private individuals to banks, insurers, regulators and local authorities. Barristers here regularly handle litigation involving large scale contamination of food and drink, and are experts in cases involving recalled white goods. Evidencing their expertise, members are involved in the large scale defence of Renault against a claim brought by over 25,000 claimants regarding NOx emissions claims.

Six Pump Court has a good bench for consumer law, and is well respected for its work in cases concerning food and trade regulations, as well as consumer credit. Its tenants, who are "great at what they do," regularly handle civil and criminal matters for local authorities, trade bodies, farms and retailers. Evidencing their capabilities in the food arena, members have recently represented Martin McColl Limited in relation to a prosecution concerning repeated food hygiene breaches. Members also continue to represent participants at the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry in relation to issues surrounding technical systems, kit and components installed during the refurbishment of the tower.