Gough Square Chambers

Head of Chambers: Kevin de Haan KC & Jonathan Goulding

Senior Clerk: Bob Weekes

Tenants: 30

THE CHAMBERS 

Gough Square Chambers deals primarily with the civil and criminal aspects of consumer and regulatory law, financial services, and life sciences.

WORK UNDERTAKEN: 

Chambers’ work is broadly divided into civil, criminal and regulatory aspects. Chambers’ civil work is heavily involved with advising and acting for FCA-regulated entities in relation to regulated lending and surrounding issues, including enforcement applications and FCA authorisation under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. In particular, members of Chambers have expertise in relation to the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and the FCA’s Consumer Credit Sourcebook. Members also act in relation to banking, asset finance, judicial review and general commercial matters. Gough Square Chambers has been involved in some of the most important and high profile cases on these issues in recent years. For example, Hurstanger Ltd v Wilson, Helden v Strathmore Ltd, Harrison v Black Horse Ltd and Beavis v ParkingEye Ltd.

The criminal aspects of Chambers’ work include prosecutions under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, food law, ‘legal highs’, weights and measures, product safety, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics and copyright. Several members of Chambers are active members of the Food Law Group, and Chambers attends the annual TSI Conference talking on key issues and updates. Notable cases include: R v Scottish and Southern Energy plc, R v X Ltd and R (Kingston upon Hull City Council) v Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.

In relation to regulatory matters, Chambers advises and acts for and against an array of industry regulators. For example: the Financial Conduct Authority, the Competition and Markets Authority, the Advertising Standards Agency, the Civil Aviation Authority, OFWAT and OFCOM. In addition, members have appeared before the First Tier Tribunal and in disciplinary matters before the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Members of Chambers regularly write and speak on their areas of expertise, as well as editing and contributing to several leading textbooks including Miller’s Product Liability & Safety Encyclopaedia, Encylopedia of Financial Services Law, Encyclopaedia of Banking Law and Consumer and Trading Standards: Law & Practice (‘the Pink Book’). Members also sit on the Bar Council’s Law Reform Committee and are therefore well placed to understand the import of current and proposed legislation.