QEB Hollis Whiteman

QEB Hollis Whiteman is delighted to announce that Nicholas Griffin KC has been appointed to the World Anti-Doping Agency compliance review committee from January 2025. The CRC is a Permanent Special Committee of WADA that monitors the compliance of sports Anti-Doping Organizations with the World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards. It is an independent, non-political body providing advice, guidance and recommendations to WADA’s Executive Committee on compliance matters. https://lnkd.in/eDkG9-fu

Nicholas Griffin KC joins the panel at 'Eversheds Sutherland’s Getting to the heart of it, Public Inquiries and Investigations Annual Conference 2024.   Yesterday, Nicholas Griffin KC joined Kate Grange KC (39ES) and Catherine Henney (Eversheds Sutherland) to discuss the various issues that can arise when ongoing criminal investigations and proceedings are running alongside an inquiry, and the tools available to an inquiry to manage any associated risks.    Amongst other things, the afternoon saw consideration given to inquiries and media strategies, challenges with disclosure and the future role of AI.   With thanks to the organisers and participants in what proved to be a really interesting evening.

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) fines Barclays £40 million. Tom Broomfield of QEB Hollis Whiteman for the FCA. The FCA has fined Barclays £40 million in total for its failure to disclose certain arrangements with Qatari entities in 2008. Tom Broomfield was junior counsel for the Financial Conduct Authority, led by Paul Stanley KC (Essex Court Chambers) and leading Vincent Scully (6KBW College Hill). The FCA took enforcement action against Barclays for breaches of the listing rules and for acting without integrity by failing to disclose certain arrangements with Qatari entities in 2008. Tom was instructed in 2019. The FCA published decision notices against Barclays in October 2022. Barclays referred the case to the Upper Tribunal but withdrew the references on 25 November 2024, the first day of the hearing.   FCA Press Release: https://shorturl.at/w7Pfd   FT: https://shorturl.at/VEzHd   Times: https://shorturl.at/EO6Xb   Guardian: https://shorturl.at/Jwms0

The Lampard Inquiry is holding a virtual hearing 25 - 27 November. Nicholas Griffin KC is Counsel to the Inquiry, leading First Junior Rebecca Harris, Tom Coke-Smyth and Kyan Pucks, all of QEB Hollis Whiteman. 25.11.24 The Lampard Inquiry holds further hearings this week. The November hearing will be virtual and will hear further openings and impact and commemorative accounts from the families and friends of those who have died. Please see here for more information from the Inquiry page: https://shorturl.at/FMotY The hearings will start at 10am each day and will be live streamed online. For further information relating to the Inquiry hearings, including the official timetable and links to watching the hearing, please see here: https://shorturl.at/xIbMx

QEB Hollis Whiteman are delighted to announce that Jonathan Polnay KC has joined Chambers.   Jonathan is a most welcome addition to our Crime and Inquests, Inquiries and Public Law teams, specialising in the defence and prosecution of high profile and sensitive criminal matters and their interface with inquisitorial proceedings. He is instructed throughout all stages of the legal process for various parties across these areas and is commended for his vast intellect, diligence, commitment and formidable advocacy.   Heads of Chambers Adrian Darbishire KC KC and Selva Ramasamy KC said “We are delighted to welcome Jonathan to Chambers. Widely recognised as one of the outstanding practitioners at the Criminal Bar, he also acts in leading roles in highly complex Public Inquiries, such as Senior Counsel to the Inquiry for the Independent Inquiry into Afghanistan and representing the CPS and the NCA in module 5 of the Covid Inquiry. The range of his work thus complements that of Chambers more broadly and we have no doubt that his stellar practice will thrive here at QEB.”   "He is completely formidable and brings detailed understanding. He has a vast appetite for hard work." Chambers UK 2025 "Jonathan is very well prepared with strong tactical sense and an encyclopaedic knowledge of the law. These qualities made him a formidable junior and will make him a great silk." Legal 500 2025  

QEB Hollis Whiteman co-host: The Robots - and the enforcers - are coming! as part of LIIARC week. Polly Dyer joins the panel. 21.11.2024 Today, as part of LIIARC - London International Investigations and Asset Recovery Conference, Fieldfisher's Commercial Crime Team, QEB Hollis Whiteman Chambers, TransPerfect Legal and the UK Home Office  co-hosted a panel discussion on #AI advancements within the investigation space, coupled with addressing the new failure to prevent fraud offence. Polly Dyer of QEB Hollis Whiteman joined Inneli Udurawana (TransPerfect Legal), @Dr Penny Dunbabin UK Home Office, Alexandra Hulme (Fieldfisher, and Quinton N. (Fieldfisher) to consider the impact of AI from various corners of an investigation and its path. The panel explored how the twin impacts of machine learning and generative AI with the failure to prevent fraud offence will accelerate changes in compliance culture and the outcomes of investigations. Polly addressed the trends in criminal investigations and prosecutions, with particular emphasis on the increasing use of technology (addressing uses, learnings & the future) in large disclosure exercises in cases of financial crime, a topic on which Polly has significant practical experience. It was an excellent event, providing insight and guidance in advancing technology and how it will be employed in our professional world. With thanks to our co-hosts for their professional support and to all who attended and engaged with the discussion.

Lydia Barnfather awarded ‘Professional Discipline Junior of the Year’, and Fallon Alexis ‘Future Leader for Diversity & Inclusion’ - Chambers and Partners UK Bar Awards 2024. QEB Hollis Whiteman are delighted to announce that Lydia Barnfather was awarded ‘Professional Discipline Junior of the Year’, and Fallon Alexis ‘Future leader for Diversity & Inclusion’ at last night’s Chambers & Partners UK Bar Awards 2024. Both awards are in recognition of Lydia's and Fallon’s hard work and commitment and are very much deserved. We are also incredibly proud of Nicholas Griffin KC for his nomination for Inquest & Public Inquiries Silk of the Year, and we were honoured to be nominated for ‘Client Service Set of the Year’ and ‘Outstanding Set for Diversity & Inclusion’. With thanks to the researchers at Chambers and Partners, to all of our clients and those in the industry who participated in the research, and to all of those whom support us each year. Congratulations to all the winners and those shortlisted at this year's awards.

Jonathan Edge sentenced to 40 months' imprisonment, Ari Alibhai privately prosecutes on behalf of the Premier League. A man who offered a service adapting so called firesticks to customers in the Merseyside area was today sentenced to 40 months' imprisonment following a private prosecution undertaken by the Premier League. Jonathan Edge configured Fire TV sticks with specialist software and apps which enabled his customers unlawfully to access pay tv services worth over £1m in a case described by the sentencing judge as sophisticated and which involved a protracted period of offending. Edge had been warned to stop his infringing activities in September 2022 by the anti-piracy organisation FACT but elected to continue his trade until he was arrested in December 2023. The case was prosecuted by ari alibhai, instructed by Abi Wills of Edison Law and DLA Piper UK on behalf of the Premier League. Please visit our website to find links to multiple press reports and a press release from The Premier League. https://lnkd.in/eVGz4732

With thanks to ARDL . for hosting such a varied and informative event on Friday and for having Anne Whyte as a panellist to discuss sport and safeguarding, with an eye to the future. Anne's involvement followed on from her work on the “Whyte Review”, an independent review which considered abuse in the sport of gymnastics. We are grateful to ARDL for their continuing commitment to the practice area of Professional Regulation and for the time, energy and resource they invest in events such as these.  

  Upper Tribunal lays down approach to disgorgement in penalty reference. Jason Mansell leading Tom Coke-Smyth act for Arian Financial LLP .    In a decision which will be of particular interest to FCA enforcement lawyers, following a reference in relation to penalty only, the Upper Tribunal reduced a financial penalty imposed by the FCA upon Arian Financial LLP (the “Firm”) from £744,745 to £288,962.35.    The Firm was a broker that had brokered trades on behalf of clients introduced to it from Solo Capital LLP. The Firm challenged the FCA’s assessment of penalty at the Upper Tribunal and, in particular, the approach taken by the FCA to the issues of disgorgement and the multiplier.   The Firm succeeded on both issues. The Tribunal deducted from the disgorgement figure the commission payments the Firm had made to the individual broker pursuant to its pre-existing contractual obligations. The multiplier to the Firm’s Step 3 figure was also reduced by the Tribunal from a factor of 4 to 2. Jason and Tom were instructed by Jonathan Roper and Kimberly Shaw of CHARTERHOUSE LAW LIMITED.