Profiles

Job title: Barrister, DeKoven Chambers 

DeKoven Chambers specialises in commercial disputes arising out of complex international transactions.   

What have been some of the highlights of your career?
Several matters that I was instructed on in the ‘90s (acting for the liquidators of BBCI, acting for the administrators of KWELM, acting for Equitas and the Society of Lloyd’s of London, and acting for the administrators of Barings) were very important to my career at Shearman & Sterling and in creating expertise in cross border insolvency. 

Job title: Silk, 3 Verulam Buildings 

3 Verulam Buildings is a leading set of Chambers specialising in domestic and international commercial and business law, arbitration, banking, insolvency, fraud, professional negligence, energy, IT and insurance/reinsurance.  

You are widely regarded as an international commercial litigation heavyweight. To what do you credit your success?
I have always taken the view that my work is about achieving the best result for my client rather than fighting for the sake of it. I think clients appreciate that commercial approach. I also bring an international perspective – I think it helps I am half Iranian married to a Jamaican (of Lebanese origin). I have always been someone who travels a lot and international work really appeals to me. I am lucky to have a very understanding and supportive family who give me the freedom to travel as extensively as I do. I think I have benefitted from not focusing on a narrow area of commercial law and from sitting as an arbitrator as well as acting as an advocate. I have also been fortunate to work in a set that is forward thinking and dynamic. 

Job title: Silk, Doughty Street Chambers 

Doughty Street Chambers is a human rights and civil liberties practice with a national and international profile in criminal, civil, administrative, public and international law.  

You represented Tony Nicklinson – who suffered ‘locked-in’ syndrome - in his landmark case challenging the law on assisted dying. How did you become involved in that case?
Tony’s case is a progression of the work I have done throughout my career around autonomy and choice.  I have a public law and human rights practice which emphasises, among others, the rights of persons with disabilities. Autonomy links the right to make end of life decisions with, for example, the right of disabled persons to live independently in the community, and both are features of my practice. I represented Debbie Purdy in her successful appeal to the House of Lords which resulted in the DPP issuing his guidelines on prosecution in assisted suicide cases. The solicitor in Debbie Purdy’s case, Saimo Chahal, and I have worked together for many years so it was a natural fit for us to do so again for Tony and his family, who are carrying on the case now Tony has died. 

Job title - Silk. Devereux Chambers

Devereux Chambers, a civil and commercial set, specialises in insurance and reinsurance, professional negligence, tax, employment law, telecommunications, finance, energy, sport, education, personal injury, clinical negligence and health and safety law

You have been chosen to advise the Treasury Committee in an investigation surrounding the Libor scandal. What exactly is your role?

I have been advising the Treasury Committee on the existing regulatory framework, and in particular, the civil and criminal enforcement aspects. Also, I have been offering some assistance on the handling of evidence presented to the Committee. I had better not say anymore – it would breach legal privilege! 

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Silk, Littleton Chambers

Littleton’s 52 barristers specialise in employment law and commercial litigation with additional expertise in commercial fraud, banking litigation, disciplinary and regulatory law, professional negligence, sports law and mediation.

What do you credit your success to?

Undoubtedly it would be having an extremely supportive family, a husband who understands the demands and pressures of the Bar and hard work. I have found that working with and against other barristers has been invaluable in understanding what works well and what perhaps doesn’t.

In April of this year David Green CB QC became Director of the Serious Fraud Office. Shane Collery interviewed him for Counsel 

David Green took up his appointment as Director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) on 23 April 2012.

After 25 years in criminal practice at 18 Red Lion Court, he was appointed Director of the newly-established Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) in December 2004. A report by HMCPSI in July 2009 concluded that RCPO had succeeded in its key task of restoring public and judicial confidence in Customs prosecutions. When RCPO was merged with CPS in 2010, David became Director of the CPS Central Fraud Group, before returning to the Bar at 6 Kings Bench Walk in April 2011.  

Job title: Barrister, 2 Bedford Row

2 Bedford Row consists of 18  silks and 55 juniors practicing domestically and internationally in their specialist areas of  Crime, Fraud, HSE, Professional Discipline, Regulatory and Sports Law and has a high profile client base both here and abroad .

Tell me about your day today and the week ahead?

I’m prosecuting a trial in Croydon where there are allegations of serious sexual misconduct involving a teacher on one of his former pupils. I’m starting another trial next week in central London dealing with the paedophile unit and I’m also lodging documents with the Court of Appeal in respect of an appeal against conviction and making a trip north where I’m representing a defendant charged with relatively serious fraud allegations.

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Barrister, 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square

4-5 Gray’s Inn Square specialises in providing legal advice and advocacy in public, planning and commercial law. With 56 barristers, chambers handles cases at all levels of expertise and complexity for a range of clients.

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Silk, 20 Essex Street

20 Essex Street is a long-established set of commercial barristers’ chambers with offices in London and Singapore. Members advise on all aspects of international trade, commerce and finance with specialist expertise in banking, shipping, insurance, insolvency, IT, competition, public international law, and European Community law.

As principal legal adviser to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) from May 2006 to May 2011, how did you approach the role?

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Barrister, 7 Bedford Row

7 Bedford Row is a leading national and international set, providing expertise in family law, clinical and professional negligence, personal injury, crime, insurance disputes, employment, fraud, contract and tort, sports law, and regulatory and white collar crime.

Your practice has developed beyond “conventional” crime and regulatory to include professional disciplinary work, and you have recently been award the Bar Pro Bono Award for your work on the Bar Standards Board. How has this come about, and why is the BSB work pro bono?

My practice has always involved an element of disciplinary work, and I have represented a number of legal, medical, financial and sports professionals before the disciplinary committees of various regulatory bodies.