Trading Standards

Recognised for our experience and knowledge of Trading Standards offences, Chambers has long been amongst the dominant sets in this field.

Overview

QEB Hollis Whiteman has an established reputation in the field of Trading Standards, having long specialised in this area. We advise and act across a wide range of Trading Standards practices, often in large-scale and groundbreaking cases. We have experience at all levels of Counsel and all stages of proceedings from pre-charge all the way through to appeal. 

Our Experience

Members of Chambers have experience across the full spectrum of Trading Standards offences including: food safety; criminal proceedings arising from infringement of intellectual property rights; counterfeit goods; car clocking; product safety; consumer credit; consumer protection; and trade description matters.

We have prosecuted for Trading Standards Authorities across the country including Bedfordshire County Council, London Borough of Brent and Harrow, Coventry City Council, London Borough of Ealing, Essex County Council, Hertfordshire County Council, London Borough of Haringey, London Borough of Islington, Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames, London Borough of Lewisham, London Borough of Richmond and Slough Borough Council. Chambers has also been instructed by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, the Regional Asset Recovery Team and has worked with the Office of Fair Trading and the National Trading Standards eCrime Team. Members have advised the OFT, advising on legal issues, investigations and policies as well as working on a range of projects of major importance to the UK economy and millions of consumers - some of which have a criminal and/or regulatory dimension.

Members have also defended individuals, partnerships and limited companies in trading standards prosecutions brought by a range of local authorities and other prosecuting bodies including the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and the Regional Asset Recovery Team.

We take instructions from the early stages of advice through to the conclusion of restraint and confiscation proceedings and beyond to appeal. Whether case-specific, or more generally on current legislation, we offer expertise at all levels; our exceptional team of Junior Counsel is led by Senior Counsel and Queen's Counsel.

We pride ourselves on our Trading Standards training programme; we regularly attend industry conferences and host our own to advise the industry at large. We train local authorities and companies throughout the UK and offer bespoke training upon request.