Retour United Kingdom - The Bar

Leading Silks

Brian Kennelly KC – Blackstone Chambers ‘Brian has an excellent bedside manner.’
Maya Lester KC – Brick Court Chambers ‘Maya's reputation is second to none. She commands respect from peers, judges and administrative decision-makers in the UK and EU. She is also a highly innovative and strategic lawyer. On her feet, she is calm but commanding.’
Rachel Barnes KC – Three Raymond Buildings ‘Her knowledge of sanctions law and regulations is incredible. She is a true asset on any complex case she is instructed on.’
Fergus Randolph KC – Brick Court Chambers 'Fergus is incredibly intelligent and at the same time pragmatic, always taking into account the commercial context and keeping the end objective in mind. He is extremely accommodating in relation to timing pressures and very responsive. He is a great pleasure to work with.'
Clare Sibson KC – Fountain Court Chambers 'A crystal-clear thinker.'
Jim Sturman KC2 Bedford Row ‘Very strong criminal law background allows this barrister to assess the risks and consequences precisely and not in a theoretical way. Jim is always up to date regarding the most recent legislation and developments, which is very important in the current highly volatile environment.’

Leading Juniors

Jason Pobjoy – Blackstone Chambers ‘Jason is a go-to counsel for knotty sanctions questions. He approaches matters with clarity and precision and gets straight to the heart of the issue. In an area that often requires equivocality, he is able to get off the fence and provide definitive answers.’
Paul Wright – Brick Court Chambers ‘Extremely helpful and approachable - solicitors are pleased with the quality of the work he does for them.’
Malcolm Birdling – Brick Court Chambers ‘Malcolm is a go-to junior for this work. His work for both individuals and government in this area means he has an amazing breadth and depth of knowledge of both the law and practice.’
Jonathan Dawid - Brick Court Chambers 'Very in depth knowledge and experience in this area, always responsive and happy to help on a variety of challenging issues.'
Alex Haines - Outer Temple Chambers 'Alex has an encyclopedic knowledge of financial sanctions - he's a leader in this field. Because of his work for HM Government, he has a good instinct for how relevant public authorities or ministers are likely to respond. He is very good at strategy.'
Tom LearyBlackstone Chambers ‘Tom is great in the sanctions space and really knows his stuff. He understands not just how to interpret the rules, but also what the guidance says and how that translates to real world practice.’
Khadija Leuenberger – The 36 Group ‘Khadija is a superstar - she is able to turn her mind to the most complex legal issues and produce excellent results. As far as sanctions-related work is concerned, Khadija has significant expertise in this area.’
Sophie O’SullivanOuter Temple ‘Sophie’s advocacy skills are commendable, particularly in the realm of sanctions. She exhibits strengths in crafting persuasive arguments and demonstrating a nuanced understanding of complex legal issues related to sanctions.’

Leading Associates

Ali Al-Karim – Brick Court Chambers ‘Ali has built up a strong reputation in sanctions work – punches well above his weight call-wise.’
Joshua Hitchens – Outer Temple Chambers ‘Josh’s background is public law - this makes him an attractive counsel for sanctions challenges under the new UK sanctions framework.’
Emile Simpson – Pump Court Tax Chambers ‘Technically very capable. Emile's knowledge of the UK law, trends, developments and practical approach of OFSI is bordering encyclopaedic. But his approach with client intermediaries is always to distil these quite difficult matters into bite-size chunks.’

Sanctions in London Bar

Brick Court Chambers


Brick Court Chambers is ‘top tier in relation to sanctions,’ with its members acting for designated individuals, UK government ministries and companies facing sanctions challenges. Maya Lester KC exemplifies this breadth of practice, having appeared for the Foreign Office in Phillips v FCDO, in which a British citizen designated on the grounds of being a pro-Russia propagandist in the Ukrainian War challenged his listing on free speech grounds; she also appeared for Nizar Al-Assaad before the ECJ in his bid to be removed from the Syrian sanctions list. Lester regularly leads Malcolm Birdling, who appeared for the appellant in Shvidler v FCDO, a challenge to the designation of a British-American citizen (who, while, having a track record of business in Russia was never a Russian citizen) whose assets were frozen under the post-Brexit Russia sanctions. Fergus Randolph KC is frequently called upon by companies and regulators looking to navigate the Russian sanctions regime. Commercial disputes where sanctions have prevented the payment of monies owed or halted projects form part of Paul Wright‘s practice, which also includes advising law firms on the limitations sanctions place on their ability to advise certain clients.

Les références

‘All the clerks I have dealt with at Brick Court are great. Jo Francis and Hannah Rayner in particular are wonderful to deal with.’

‘Excellent clerking team. Tony Burgess is incredibly personable, understands our needs and ensures that we get the right counsel for the matter. He will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all requirements are satisfied.’

‘The clerks provide an excellent service. They are responsive, efficient and friendly. I would mention Hannah Rayner, Sam Jones and Tony Burgess.’





Blackstone Chambers


‘A strong set for sanctions work,’ Blackstone Chambers brings together a number of disciplines when representing both designated individuals seeking to challenge their sanctioning and corporate clients running the gauntlet of UK and EU sanctions regimes. Brian Kennelly KC is counsel of choice for a number of listed individuals and government bodies, appearing frequently before the ECJ in motions to overturn designations, while also advising on sanctions implications for commercial transactions. Jason Pobjoy is often called upon by the Foreign Office when its designations are subject to challenge, while Tom Leary handles appeals brought under s38 of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018. Pobjoy appeared for the FCDO in Mazepin v SSFCDA, in which the former Formula One driver, and son of the former owner of Uralchem, sought to overturn his designation in the UK.

Les références

‘Generally responsive and good service. They understood our needs at a time of high client demand and worked with us to put in place an arrangement that was beneficial for all parties.’

‘Excellent lawyers all.’

‘Blackstone Chambers are a strong set for sanctions work.’