Victoria Wakefield's Full CV

 

Education

Tapton Comprehensive School, Sheffield (1991-1997); Trinity College Cambridge (2001) - BA Hons Law (First Class); Université Libre de Bruxelles (2002) - D.E.S. droit européen (grande distinction); Inns of Court School of Law (2003) - B.V.C. (very competent)

Practice Profile

Victoria has appeared in the European Court of Justice, the Supreme Court, the House of Lords, the Court of Appeal, the High Court, county courts, the Information Tribunal, employment tribunals, the High Court of Tanzania, a Public Inquiry and in arbitration (LCIA rules). She has worked in almost all of Chambers' practice areas, and is as comfortable in a multi-million pound commercial dispute as in a judicial review.

Practice Areas

European and Competition Law

Important cases include:

  • Case 636/11 Berger - Victoria is currently instructed (unled) on behalf of the United Kingdom in this reference from a German Court in the field of food safety.
  • EWRG v Philips & Ors- Victoria is instructed as one of the counsel team in this large piece of competition litigation in the High Court, listed for 9 weeks trial in early 2013.
  • Cases C-14/10 Nickel Institute and C-15/10 Etimine - Victoria was instructed (led by David Anderson QC and Jemima Stratford QC respectively) in these references from the High Court to the ECJ for preliminary ruling in respect of the regulation of chemicals.
  • Case C-391/08 Dow Agrosciences - Victoria was led by David Vaughan QC in an appeal against a refusal to grant interim relief.
  • Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Services v Amalgamated Racing Ltd and others [2008] All ER (D) 73 (Aug) - Appeared led by Charles Hollander QC and Helen Davies QC in competition claim relating to media rights.
  • Lonsdale v Howard & Hallam [2007] 4 All ER 1- Victoria was led by Fergus Randolph, intervening in the House of Lords in this commercial agents regulations case.
  • Barker v Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Ch.Div, 2007) - Appeared unled on behalf of the claimant farmer seeking payment of money owed under a Council Regulation
  • Easyjet v Liverpool Airport (settled 2007) - led by Mark Brealey QC and Danny Jowell on behalf of the Defendants in a competition law claim.
  • Adidas v International Tennis Federation & Ors (settled 2006) - Led by Charles Hollander QC on behalf of the Defendants in a competition law claim.

Victoria has advised on the application of free movement of goods to the Channel Islands and advised the General Medical Council on the application of European law (in particular free movement of persons) to various cases. Led by David Anderson QC, she has advised on the recovery of unlawful State Aid and also on the application of European law to various tax rules. She has also advised on a range of competition, state aid and public procurement matters, as well as on the implementation of Directives.

Public and Administrative Law

Important cases include:

  • KM v Cambridgeshire County Council (Feb 2012) - Victoria was led by Richard Gordon QC in this Supreme Court hearing concerning community care law.
  • The Baha Mousa Public Inquiry -Victoria was Junior Counsel for the MoD in an Inquiry into the death of an Iraqi in British custody.
  • Knights v Ministry of Justice (July 2010) - Victoria appeared unled in this direct HRA claim, brought by a prisoner.
  • Aehmed v Legal Service Commission 2009 EWCA 572 - Victoria was led by Martin Chamberlain on behalf of the LSC in an appeal against an award of election petition costs.
  • Woodpecker v HMRC [2009] EWHC 3442 (Ch) - Appeared unled for HMRC
  • R (Smith) v (1) Secretary of State for Justice & (2) Parole Board [2008] EWHC (Admin) - Appeared unled for the Parole Board
  • R (Government of Bermuda) v Office of Communications [2008] All ER (D) 88 (Aug) - Junior Counsel for the Government of Bermuda (led by Richard Gordon QC) in judicial review against an Ofcom Decision relating to satellites.
  • Mkombozi v Attorney General (High Court of Tanzania, 2008) - Victoria appeared unled in the High Court in Arusha, Tanzania, in a direct constitutional challenge against the rounding up of street children.
  • Lord Avebury v The Information Commissioner (2007) - Victoria was instructed by Lord Avebury, successfully seeking the disclosure of the dates of meetings between Tony Blair and Rupert Murdoch or Richard Desmond.
  • R (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) v The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (2007) - Led by Nigel Pleming QC and Martin Chamberlain on behalf of the Claimant in a judicial review on the consultation of Home Information Packs.
  • R (Dost Mohammed) v Secretary of State for Defence (Court of Appeal) [2007] All ER (D) 09 (May) - Junior counsel for the Secretary of State (led by Clive Lewis QC and Martin Chamberlain) defending a race discrimination challenge to the ex gratia Far Eastern Prisoner of War compensation scheme. Also appeared in the earlier hearing in the High Court.

Victoria has also been instructed in many judicial reviews (including immigration and community care claims).

Commercial Law

Important cases include:

  • Jones v Ricoh [2012] EWHC 348 (Ch) - Victoria was led by Charles Hollander QC on behalf of the defendants in a breach of NDA/ breach of confidence claim.
  • Rayden v Edwardo (Commercial Court, settled 2009) - Victoria was led by Charles Hollander QC in this breach of share sale warranty claim.
  • Associated British Ports v Ferryways (first instance [2008] 2 Lloyd's Rep 353) (CA [2009] 1 Lloyd's Rep. 595) - Victoria was led by Peter Irvin in a contractual dispute relating to guarantees/indemnities.
  • Arla Foods UK v Barnes and Others [2009] 1 B.C.L.C. 699 - Led by Charles Hollander QC on behalf of the defendant farmers in a contractual claim under a milk supply agreement.
  • Royal Bank of Scotland v Winterthur (2008) - Junior counsel for Winterthur (led by Mark Howard QC and Helen Davies QC) in a breach of share sale warranty claim.
  • The Accident Group Litigation (settled 2007) - Junior counsel for Winterthur and NIG (led by Charles Hollander QC, Tim Lord and Colin West), the underwriters of The Accident Group personal injury legal expenses scheme, in a professional negligence and contractual dispute.

Victoria has also appeared, both led and unled, in arbitrations under LCIA rules.

Further Information

  • Victoria is a member of the Treasury C Panel
  • She speaks fluent French.
  • She is a member of ALBA and BEG.