Legal 500 rankings released for 2022
Another very good showing with 15 members of chambers receiving 25 individual recommendations. Chambers remains in Band 1 for POCA work and has 13 recommendations in that practice area. With recommendations also in Civil Fraud, Business and Regulatory Crime and Fraud Crime 33 Chancery Lane maintains its reputation as being the go-to chambers for financial wrongdoing and asset recovery issues.
PROCEEDS OF CRIME (POCA) AND ASSET FORFEITURE TIER 1
Recognised as ‘the go-to set for POCA and asset forfeiture work’, the barristers at 33 Chancery Lane act for regulatory bodies, defendants, prosecuting agencies, and companies in proceeds of crime and asset forfeiture matters. Kennedy Talbot QC, known for his work on high-profile precedent-setting cases in this space, currently leads Catherine Collins in an SFO investigation into the collapse of London Capital & Finance (LCF) in restraint and related civil proceedings. In R v. Othman Louanjli, Mark Rainsford QC represents an investment banker awaiting sentence for laundering money stolen from the owner of an energy corporation. Martin Evans QC is currently acting in multiple cases before the Supreme Court, including Andrewes, which involves confiscation proceedings brought by the CPS. In addition, in R v Baldwin, Fiona Jackson was instructed by the FCA in a confiscation application where a defendant convicted of money laundering fled the country and is still at large.
Leading Silks
Kennedy Talbot QC - 33 Chancery Lane ‘ He has an unrivaled expertise but most importantly, remains commercial and able of explaining difficult legal concepts in a meaningful way that clients can understand. He is always willing to chat matters through on an informal basis and will provide early stage advice without charge. He has become the go-to barrister for AML issues. ’
Ranked: Tier 1
Graham Brodie QC - 33 Chancery Lane ‘ A winning combination of prodigious intellect, common-sense practicality, superb client handling skills and highly persuasive advocacy – at the very top of the tree.
Ranked: Tier 2
Martin Evans QC - 33 Chancery Lane ‘ Very personable and able to give clear, practical advice in short order. Very responsive. ’
Ranked: Tier 2
Andrew Mitchell QC - 33 Chancery Lane ‘ Andrew is an absolute force of nature. Incredibly user-friendly and peerless in POCA and related matters. He inspires confidence. ’
Ranked: Tier 2
Mark Rainsford QC - 33 Chancery Lane ‘ His strengths include a complete willingness to listen to all team members before giving clear and persuasive advice. Exceptionally friendly to work with. Highly-respected, very hard working and extremely knowledgeable in this area of law and practice. ’
Ranked: Tier 2
Leading Juniors
Christopher Convey - 33 Chancery Lane
Ranked: Tier 1
Fiona Jackson - 33 Chancery Lane ‘ A well-prepared and very knowledgeable senior junior who will surely take silk in the next few years. ’
Ranked: Tier 1
Ian Smith - 33 Chancery Lane ‘ Ian is very knowledgeable about, and experienced in the practical application of the Proceeds of Crime legislation and AML law generally. He is calm under pressure, thoughtful but robust in his advice, and sensitive to the commercial realities of relevant transactions.
Ranked: Tier 1
Barry Stancombe - 33 Chancery Lane ‘ Barry's written work is of an exceptional high quality and he never fails to impress in his oral advocacy. A hugely talented counsel, who has an admirable reputation in the fields that he practices in and is thoroughly pragmatic in his approach. Excels in cross border and challenging cases. ’
Ranked: Tier 1
Catherine Collins - 33 Chancery Lane ‘ Catherine immerses herself in cases she is instructed on and can recall information accurately at will. She does not leave anything to chance and will have considered all options and all eventualities to ensure that her client has the best chance of prevailing unscathed. From company directors to those with limited means, expect Catherine to give her all to your case. You would definitely want Catherine in your corner. ’
Ranked: Tier 2
Penelope Small - 33 Chancery Lane
Ranked: Tier 2
John Carl Townsend - 33 Chancery Lane ‘ Very bright and able, incisive and has a good grasp of procedure in the practice areas listed above. He works tirelessly to do the best for clients and has handled difficult cases well. ’
Ranked: Tier 2
Faisal Osman - 33 Chancery Lane ‘ Extremely well-organised, precise, analytical, easy to work with and able to use technology to the advantage of the case - other counsel find his technological solutions invaluable. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Testimonials
Set
’33 Chancery Lane is a leading POCA and commercial set with good counsel.’
‘The go-to set for POCA and asset forfeiture work. Excellent strength in depth.’
‘Excellent set. Very good quality counsel. Simply the best at POCA work.’
‘Excellent set, very friendly and eager to assist.’
‘The leading set on restraint, forfeiture, and confiscation, both civil and criminal. Strong on commercial fraud. Wide experience of foreign jurisdictions.’
Clerking
‘Martin Adams stands out, is accommodating and quick off the mark.’
‘Excellent service and very good clerking system.’
‘Great service from all including the clerks. Genuinely care about getting the best results for clients and highly adaptable and commercial.’
‘Chris Chiles is very helpful.’
‘Great attentive service. Emails and calls are responded to very quickly even when last-minute changes occur during the lifetime of a matter.’
FRAUD: CIVIL
Leading Silks
Graham Brodie QC - 33 Chancery Lane ‘ One of a small number of leading silks in business crime and fraud, uniquely able to straddle civil and criminal cases. An expert in all POCA, asset forfeiture and money laundering matters. Outstanding from a tactical and strategic perspective. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Leading Juniors
Ian Smith - 33 Chancery Lane ‘ He is calm under pressure, thoughtful but robust in his advice, and sensitive to the commercial realities of relevant transactions. ’
Ranked: Tier 2
Faisal Osman - 33 Chancery Lane ‘ Faisal is absolutely standout. He has huge experience of the civil and criminal fields, he is terrific with clients, his courtroom manner is exceptional, and he has a unique ability just to get on with it and to get the job done. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
BUSINESS AND REGULATORY CRIME (INCLUDING GLOBAL INVESTIGATIONS) TIER 3
33 Chancery Lane is an ‘extremely strong set’ traditionally known for its POCA expertise, but its members are also adept at handling all stages of agency investigations and proceedings involving allegations of money laundering, fraud, and bribery and corruption, among others. Members of chambers are highly active in SFO and HMRC investigations in particular; chair of the Bar Amanda Pinto QC is instructed by the SFO in relation to the aftermath of its Global Forestry Investments investigation.
Leading Silks
Mark Rainsford QC - 33 Chancery Lane ‘ Mark demonstrates command of his brief, looks outside of the box, with a willingness to always go the extra mile. He is extremely good with clients and provides the reassurance as required. An outstanding silk with a keen eye for detail. ’
Ranked: Tier 1
Graham Brodie QC - 33 Chancery Lane ‘ Graham’s imagination is second to none. He is like a creative midfielder: able to see everything from above, and work out where the best avenues of success might be. His ideas are often akin to legal alchemy. ’
Ranked: Tier 2
Amanda Pinto QC - 33 Chancery Lane ‘ A charming polished advocate with superb judgement and great experience; always meticulously prepared; clients love her; prodigiously clever. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Testimonials
Set
‘Extremely strong set, with an array of talent across a range of topics.’
‘33 is the go-to set for all matters relating to financial crime and AML. Their annual financial crime seminar day is fantastic.’
‘An excellent set experienced in business and regulatory crime. Best for anything POCA-related.’
‘Everyone there is very clever and tactically astute.’
Clerking
‘Clerks have always demonstrated a willingness to facilitate whatever required, even at very short notice.’
‘Martin Adams is a pleasure to deal with and makes fee discussions straightforward and comfortable.’
‘Chris Chiles goes above and beyond having gone out of his way to deliver documents to me on his way home!’
FRAUD: CRIME TIER 3
The set at 33 Chancery Lane 'has a unique array of talent' who both prosecute and defend in major fraud trials. Past work includes handling tax fraud, money laundering, and boiler room scams, areas meshing well with the set's expertise in onshore and cross-border financial crime. Alastair Webster QC is often involved in sensitive civil and criminal fraud cases, including a case concerning an alleged £80m postal fraud in which which he represents a principal defendant.
Leading Silks
Amanda Pinto QC - 33 Chancery Lane
Ranked: Tier 2
Mark Rainsford QC –33 Chancery Lane ‘Mark has a keen eye for detail and is prepared to look outside of the box. He is always determined to achieve the best outcome for clients.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Andrew Mitchell QC - 33 Chancery Lane ‘ Andrew is fantastic - clever, easy to work with, forceful in submissions and great on his feet. ’
Ranked: Tier 3
Alistair Webster QC –33 Chancery Lane ‘Alistair is always meticulously prepared, and his legal acumen is of the highest level.'
Ranked: Tier 3
Graham Brodie QC –33 Chancery Lane ‘An expert in all money laundering matters. Outstanding from a tactical and strategic perspective.'
Ranked: Tier 3
Leading Juniors
Christopher Convey –33 Chancery Lane ‘Christopher’s knowledge and application of the law is outstanding. An excellent advocate and a brilliant strategist.'
Ranked: Tier 3
Testimonials
Set
‘33 Chancery Lane has a unique array of talent across many disciplines.’
‘Undoubtedly the go-to set for money-laundering and associated issues.’
‘Service has been first rate. Clerks room always willing to help.’