Gough Square is the leading set in consumer law and consumer finance and members specialise across those areas.
We are instructed both by firms of solicitors and in-house legal departments, for banks and other financial institutions, supermarkets, manufacturers, distributors and high street retailers.
We also act for government agencies, such as the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) and local authorities’ trading standards and environmental health departments, and for individuals.
Advice and representation is provided in civil proceedings in both courts and tribunals in relation to contracts governed by the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and other financial services legislation, contractual disputes within the supply chain of consumer goods and product safety and liability. We also appear before regulatory bodies such as the FCA and BIS in relation to licensing and other issues.
Chambers has much experience in the criminal enforcement aspects of trading law, both in an advisory capacity and in court. The plethora of trading law issues dealt with include consumer protection, fair trading, under-age sales, dangerous goods, food safety, food labelling, use by dates enforcement policy and the due diligence defence. We both prosecute and defend and regularly appear across the full range of the criminal courts.
We advise on non-contentious matters such as contract terms, procedure manuals and advertisements. Reviews of contract documentation are provided for the purposes of securitisations and buy-outs.
Chambers has expertise in dealing with the wider consequences of lending and borrowing including commercial and property transactions, disputes over ownership of land and trusts of land, fraud, asset tracing, debt enforcement, corporate and individual insolvency, insurance and professional indemnity. We are experienced in advising and acting in disputes over business organisation, including employment, directors’ liabilities, shareholder agreements and partnership disputes. We support ADR where appropriate.