2 Hare Court offers a demonstrable level of expertise in Consumer and Trading Standards work, having represented the interests of defendants and regulators across the calendar of criminal offences (and related civil matters) falling under the jurisdiction of Trading Standards and Environmental Health Services.
Chambers has acted in cases of substantial fraudulent trading, large-scale-counterfeiting and money-laundering, illegal money lending, car clocking, the sale of banned skin-lightening products and illicit tobacco, product safety breaches by manufacturers and importers, age restricted sales, weights and measures, car-clocking, aggressive and banned commercial practices, and more.
We have appeared for or against well-known companies including TK Maxx, United Airlines, Argos, Sainsbury’s, B&Q, Menzies, WH Smith, Poundland and Kwik-Fit, in addition to smaller businesses, their directors and other individuals.
We advise from the inception of an investigation through to the enforcement of ancillary court orders. We have considerable experience in all aspects of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, including restraint pre-charge and the appointment of enforcement receivers.
We can also advise commercial entities as to the efficacy of their due diligence systems, around matters involving primary authority partnerships or as to general compliance with their varied and complex legal obligations, in an effort to avert litigation.
In addition to acting for Trading Standards services across England and Wales, we have advised National Trading Standards on the implementation of new legislation and Government departments on the scope of consumer protection law.
Examples of cases dealt with by Chambers include representing Fleetwood Town FC chairman Andrew Pilley for mis-selling energy contracts, in the largest prosecution ever brought by Trading Standards, the Bishop Climate fake Covid cure case, Operation Ark (so-called magic energy boxes), the first prosecution in the UK for the sale of counterfeit airbags and Operation Augusta (world’s largest eBay fraud).
Our expertise in fraud and intellectual property crime blends perfectly with our expertise in private prosecution work, as illustrated by the private prosecution of IBF Ltd & Di Pierro, a case involving one of the most sophisticated and wholesale misappropriations of a brand identity (Supreme) brought before the criminal courts.
Chambers has extensive experience in matters concerning food law. We have acted for the Food Standards Agency, numerous Environmental Health Services and for many food businesses, including well-known retailers, importers and producers, as well as for company officers and restaurateurs.
In addition to appearing in the most serious cases, such as the Mitchells & Butlers fatal food-poisoning case, the Plaistow curry house poisoning case and the Dixfield Ltd bridesmaid anaphylaxis case, Members have also acted for household brands including Heinz, Findus, Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and Carluccio’s on matters concerning compliance with the obligations imposed by the myriad regulations in this area of law.
We have acted in cases involving unauthorised or unhygienic slaughterhouses, breaches of food safety management systems, inadequate or misleading food labelling, misdescribed food, durability of foodstuffs, contaminated and condemned food, the issue of enforcement notices and other cases of national significance, including the successful defence of Pret A Manger in relation to allegations concerning its management of food allergens.
Julian Campbell, Director of Clerking
For more information please contact Julian Campbell on 020 7869 7806 or email juliancampbell@2harecourt.com.
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