Award-winning Ardent Chambers Strengthens International Links with Appointment of Consultant Barristers

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Award-winning Ardent Chambers, Jersey’s only barristers’ style chambers, has strengthened its ability to work on both Jersey and international litigation and regulatory cases by appointing four leading barristers as consultants.

Collingwood Thompson QC, Nichola Higgins, David O’Mahony and Edward Sawyer have extensive experience in international and offshore finance litigation, representing all sides in trust disputes, criminal and civil fraud, money laundering, probate & estate and regulatory matters.

The appointments coincide with Ardent Chambers being named runner-up boutique off-shore law practice of the year in London’s prestigious Citywealth International Finance Centre Awards.

“We are delighted to welcome Collingwood, Nichola, David and Edward as consultants,” said Ardent Chambers founder member, Matthew Jowitt.

“Their vast experience and ability will be a considerable asset to our clients, not only in Jersey and London litigation but in international cases too, and will further enhance our growing reputation for excellence, which has been recently recognised in the IFC Awards.”

Collingwood Thompson QC (Head of Chambers at 7 Bedford Row)

Collingwood has specialised in both civil and criminal fraud since taking silk in 1998. He has prosecuted for all the main agencies (SFO, CPS, SOCA (now the NCA)) and advised the Attorney General of Jersey on fraud-related investigations, as well as defending clients charged on major fraud prosecutions instituted by these agencies.

He is highly regarded as a specialist in cases involving money laundering, both prosecuting and defending, and is a frequent speaker at international conferences. Through his fraud practice he has developed an expertise in legal professional privilege, particularly in connection with search warrants and Production Orders. He is also instructed in regulatory and compliance cases at home and abroad by both regulators and those who are subject to such investigations.

Nichola Higgins (Doughty Street Chambers)

Nichola has an in depth knowledge and experience of corporate crime and regulation, which comes from having defended, investigated and prosecuted some of the most complex and challenging allegations of corruption and fraud in recent years, both domestically and overseas.

Nichola advises companies on their compliance procedures and has unique experience of advising an international corporation engaged in global projects on the practical features of the ‘adequate procedures’ defence under the Bribery Act 2010. She has conducted cross-border investigations for both the prosecution and the defence.

Nichola both lectures and writes regularly on the Bribery Act 2010 and related issues. She is a contributor to Bribery: A compliance handbook, Bloomsbury Professional, 2014 and is a member of the editorial board of Lloyds Law Reports: Financial Crime. She is also an approved advocate for the Serious Fraud Office, B panel, and a fluent Spanish speaker.

Edward Sawyer (Wilberforce Chambers)

Edward was called to the English Bar in 2001 His practice encompasses litigation and advisory work across the broad range of commercial chancery cases, often with an international or offshore element.

He has particular experience in the fields of trust disputes, probate and succession, pensions and civil fraud. In his trust practice, Edward has been instructed on behalf of trustees, beneficiaries and professional advisers acting for the trust.

David O’Mahony (7 Bedford row)

David has been instructed in a variety of cases in Jersey over the last 15 years. These have included a £100 million pound contract claim, substantial constructive trust proceedings and numerous financial crime and regulatory cases. He recently acted for the United Kingdom government in the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of Jersey.

David specialises in cases in which there is an international element. He is admitted to practice in the Dubai International Finance Centre (‘DIFC’) court (where he was instructed in arbitration proceedings). David has been called to the bar in Australia and also in Turks and Caicos Islands. He is on the list of counsel at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.