Legal Business

Sponsor message – 3 Verulam Buildings: Congratulations

Many congratulations indeed on being selected for the GC Powerlist UK for 2019. We at 3 Verulam Buildings (3VB) are proud to be associated with this authoritative list of ‘the most influential in-house lawyers in business today’, which is the accolade you now carry!

Legal Business

A change of mind: 3VB’s Beltrami QC pulls out of move to One Essex Court

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Confirmed just days ago, 3 Verulam Buildings‘ (3VB) heavyweight silk Adrian Beltrami QC has pulled out of moving to One Essex Court, deciding to remain at his current set.

The news comes despite Beltrami moving his possessions over to One Essex Court last week.

The move was considered major coup for One Essex Court. Beltrami specialises in commercial litigation and advisory work in areas including banking and financial services, commercial disputes, corporate insolvency and restructuring, and professional negligence. He is also instructed in arbitrations in the same fields. He was instructed on Graiseley Properties v Barclays Bank and is involved in other cases concerning Libor.

The barrister is recommended by The Legal 500, which describes him as ‘always the first choice for large-scale, difficult matters.’

The set announced last Wednesday (23 March) it had hired banking silk Beltrami alongside fellow QC Sonia Tolaney from 3VB, just weeks after confirming Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer disputes veteran Ian Terry will also join as a mediator.

Tolaney is still to make the move alongside juniors James MacDonald and Sandy Phipps.

sarah.downey@legalease.co.uk

Legal Business

One Essex Court takes banking silk duo from 3VB

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One Essex Court has hired banking silk duo Adrian Beltrami QC and Sonia Tolaney QC from 3 Verulam Buildings (3VB), just weeks after announcing Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer disputes veteran Ian Terry will also join the set.

The pair will be joined by juniors James MacDonald and Sandy Phipps.

Beltrami specialises in commercial litigation and advisory work in areas including banking and financial services, commercial disputes, corporate insolvency and restructuring, and professional negligence. He is also instructed in arbitrations in the same fields. He was instructed on Graiseley Properties v Barclays Bank and is involved in other cases concerning Libor.

Tolaney is widely regarded a heavyweight silk at the Bar. Regularly instructed on high profile disputes, she is currently acting for RBS and its former directors in the Rights Issue litigation. Tolaney has been instructed to lead the bank’s defence in the case, which is scheduled for trial in March 2017. She also acts for the Financial Conduct Authority in litigation before the English courts and the Court of Justice of the European Union over Russian sanctions imposed on Rosneft.

A statement by the set said: ‘Each has a formidable reputation at the commercial Bar, particularly in the banking & finance sector, which will both complement and strengthen the services offered to clients in that and related areas.’

Earlier this month One Essex Court hired Freshfields disputes veteran Ian Terry, who will leave the Magic Circle firm in March after 38 years to return to the Bar as a mediator.

sarah.downey@legalease.co.uk

Legal Business

Swaps: signs of a shift?

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3 Verulam Buildings’ Gregory Mitchell QC and Alexia Knight on what lies ahead for banks

Banks have had a bruising few years. After litigation over bank charges and the payment protection insurance (PPI) scandal, very serious allegations surfaced, regarding the alleged mis-selling of interest rate hedging products (IRHPs) and, more recently, regulatory investigations on LIBOR and forex manipulation. This article considers some of the legal challenges for banks as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) review closes.