• Confidential sports arbitrations relating to alleged breaches of Articles 101 and 102 (2022; 2023).
• Merricks v Mastercard [2020] UKSC 51 – Victoria represents Walter Merricks in this ground-breaking collective action against Mastercard in respect of their unlawful Interchange Fee. Mr Merricks seeks to represent a class of some 46 million people, in a claim worth some £14 billion. The Supreme Court upheld the Court of Appeal’s judgment in Mr Merricks’ favour. The application for a Collective Proceedings Order has now been made by the Competition Appeal Tribunal. The proceedings are moving forward with the trial of various preliminary issues (including limitation and applicable law).
• Evans v Barclays Bank & Others [2022] CAT 16 – Victoria represents Phil Evans in his proposed collective proceedings in respect of the FX cartels. This raises various novel issues, including how to resolve a “carriage dispute” between two competing class representatives. It will be heard by the Court of Appeal in April 2023.
• Cabo Concepts v MGA Entertainment (2020 onwards) – Victoria represents the Defendants in this High Court claim alleging abuse of dominance and anti-competitive agreements in respect of dolls. The trial is set down for Michaelmas 2024.
• R (Medical Defence Union) v Secretary of State for Health (2020 onwards) – Victoria represents the Claimants in this State aid challenge to the assumption by the State of GPs’ clinical negligence liabilities.
• Confidential sports arbitration relating to breach of Articles 101 and 102 (2019-2020).
• Case C-144/19 P Lupin v Commission- Victoria is instructed by one of the generic companies in this high profile appeal concerning the Commission’s so- called “pay for delay” Servier decision.
• R (Tempus) v BEIS (2019) – Victoria was instructed in this State Aid challenge to the UK’s breach of the standstill requirement in the electricity capacity market.
• Queens Park Rangers v the English Football League (Arbitration Award October 2017; appeal settled in July 2018) – Victoria was junior counsel for QPR in this competition and public law challenge to the Championship 2012 Financial Fair Play Rules.
• Carewatch Care Services Limited v Focus Caring Services Limited [2014] EWHC 2313 – Victoria was instructed for the Claimant in this 7-day trial relating to post-termination non-compete clauses and active/passive selling. She appeared unled, against a QC,  on the competition law aspects of the claim (with co-counsel addressing the common law points).
• Involvement Packaging v Jokey Plastik (settled spring 2013) – Victoria was led by Fergus Randolph QC in this commercial agency claim, which also raised contract and competition law issues.
• EWRG v Philips & Ors (settled autumn 2012) - Victoria was instructed as one of the counsel team in this large piece of competition litigation in the High Court.
• Applications for warrants – Victoria has appeared as junior counsel in applications for warrants brought by the Office of Fair Trading.
• 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.
• 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.

In the national courts:

• Western Sahara Campaign UK v Secretary of State for International Trade [2022] EWHC 3108 – Victoria     is instructed by the claimants in this judicial review in respect of the UK’s preferential trade treatment for goods originating from Western Sahara. It is the first challenge to the UK’s post- Brexit “continuity” trade arrangements.
• R (Medical Defence Union) v Secretary of State for Health (2021) – Victoria represented the Claimants in this State aid challenge to the assumption by the State of GPs’ clinical negligence liabilities.
• Santander v HMRC (2021) – Victoria represented the Claimants in this free movement challenge to the overseas leasing rules.
• Lloyd v Google [2021] UKSC 50 – Victoria was instructed by Richard Lloyd in this CPR 19.6 representative action, in respect of a mass data breach of the DPA 1998 by Google. The Supreme Court held that the type of damages claimed were not available for breach of the DPA 1998, but endorsed the use of the CPR 19.6 procedure
• R (El Gizouli) v Home Secretary [2020] UKSC 10 – Victoria represented the Home Secretary in this high profile case concerning the death penalty. The Home Secretary’s decision to share evidence with the USA without requiring a death penalty assurance was upheld by the Divisional Court. The Supreme Court agreed that the decision had not been in breach of common law fundamental rights, but held that it had breached data protection law.
• R (Bayer plc) v NHS Darlington CCG & Ors [2020] EWCA Civ 449 – Victoria represented Roche, an Interested Party, in this challenge to the CCG’s policy of offering a drug as the preferred treatment outside of its marketing authorisation.
• MGR & Ors v HMRC & BMW [2019] EWCA Civ 485 – Victoria was instructed in this complex EU law restitution claim. In March 2019, following a five-day hearing, the Court of Appeal upheld the judgment of the Upper Tribunal in BMW’s favour.
• R (Utilita) v BEIS [2019] EWHC 2612 – Victoria was instructed by the Claimants in this challenge in respect of Smartmeters, involving questions of EU energy and environmental law.
• Confidential arbitration (2017) – Victoria was instructed in an arbitration in relation to a regulated contract in the railway sector.
• NICE appeals for Roche – Victoria appeared as sole counsel for Roche before the appeal panel of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on three occasions (December 2016; September 2016; December 2017).
• R (UNISON) v The Lord Chancellor [2017] UKSC 51; [2017] 3 WLR 409 – Victoria addressed a seven-judge Supreme Court in access to justice challenge to the introduction of fees in employment tribunals. The challenge raised issues of EU law, Human Rights and the common law
• R (Hemming, trading as Simply Pleasures) v Westminster (first Supreme Court hearing: [2015] 2 WLR 1271; CJEU hearing: [2017] 3 WLR 317; second Supreme Court hearing: [2017] UKSC 50; [2017] 3 WLR 317)– Victoria was instructed  in this case concerning the applicability of the Services Directive to licensing regimes (in particular, to the licensing of sex shops in Westminster). Initially instructed as junior counsel, when the case returned to the Supreme Court, she led the advocacy in respect of the questions of restitution as a matter of EU law and at common law.
• R (Minchinhampton Committee of Commoners & Ors) v DEFRA (settled 2017) – Victoria was instructed unled on behalf of a group of farmers. The case led to Defra reversing its previous policy in respect of farming on common land, with the potential to benefit farmers by many millions of pounds.
• R (British American Tobacco) v Secretary of State for Health [2016] EWHC 1169 – Victoria was instructed, led by David Anderson QC, in this high profile challenge to the introduction of plain packaging for cigarettes.
• R (Roche Registration Limited) v the MHRA [2016] 4 WLR 46 - This high profile case concerned the first application of the pharmaceutical Penalties Regulation (which allows for a fine of 5% of turnover) anywhere in Europe. It related in particular to the legality of evidence collection by the MHRA. Victoria appeared for Roche in the High Court ([2015] 1 CMLR 6) and the Court of Appeal (on both occasions led by David Anderson QC).
• R (Crossley Cooke) v SSH (settled 2015) – Victoria was instructed unled in this judicial review relating to “force majeure”.
• Daiichi Sankyo v the Information Commissioner (September 2014) – Victoria appeared unled in this challenge to the Information Commissioner’s decision in respect of release of information on the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme.
• 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.

In the CJEU:

• Case C-144/19 P Lupin v Commission - Victoria is instructed by one of the generic companies in this high profile appeal concerning the Commission’s so- called “pay for delay” Servier decision.
• Case C-15/16 Baumeister ECLI:EU:C:2018:464 - Victoria appeared before the Grand Chamber as sole counsel for the United Kingdom in this case concerning the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID).
• R (Hemming, trading as Simply Pleasures) v Westminster (first Supreme Court hearing: [2015] 2 WLR 1271; CJEU hearing: [2017] 3 WLR 317; second Supreme Court hearing: [2017] UKSC 50; [2017] 3 WLR 317)– Victoria was instructed in this case concerning the applicability of the Services Directive to licensing regimes (in particular, to the licensing of sex shops in Westminster), which was referred by the Supreme Court to the CJEU for a preliminary ruling.
• Case C-547/14 R (Philip Morris International) v SSH (Judgment 4 May 2016) – Victoria was instructed, led by David Anderson QC, in this challenge to the Second Tobacco Products Directive.
• Case T-437/14 United Kingdom v Commission – Victoria was instructed unled by the United Kingdom in this challenge to a Commission Decision disallowing sums from the Common Agricultural Payments to the UK.
• Case C-428/14 DHL – Victoria was instructed as junior counsel to file Written Observations in the CJEU on behalf of the UK in this case concerning national leniency regimes.
• Case C-209/13 United Kingdom v Council – Victoria is junior counsel for the United Kingdom in this application to annul the Council Decision which authorises Enhanced Cooperation in the area of Financial Transaction Tax.
• Case C-248/12 P: Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture and Rural Development v Commission, Case T-503/12 United Kingdom v Commission and Case T-245/13 United Kingdom v Commission  - Victoria appeared, led by Derrick Wyatt QC, in these General Court challenges to Commission decisions which disallowed significant sums of money from the Common Agricultural Payments due to the UK.
• Case C-373/12 GIC Cash – Victoria was instructed (unled) on behalf of the United Kingdom in this reference from a Slovakian court in respect of consumer contracts.
• Case 636/11 Berger - Victoria was instructed (unled) on behalf of the United Kingdom in this reference from a German Court in the field of food safety.
• Case C-416/11 P United Kingdom v Commission – Victoria was led by Derrick Wyatt QC in this appeal against a finding of inadmissibility, in the context of a claim relating to British Gibraltar territorial waters.
• 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.

• Victoria advises Church entities in connection with the defence of judicial review proceedings and proceedings brought before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. A key question relevant to these matters is the extent to which the particular decisions involve the exercise of a public function (and therefore whether they are or are not subject to judicial review or challenge under the Human Rights Act).
• Victoria is instructed in proceedings before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.
• Western Sahara Campaign UK v Secretary of State for International Trade [2022] EWHC 3108 – Victoria     is instructed by the claimants in this judicial review in respect of the UK’s preferential trade treatment for goods originating from Western Sahara. It is the first challenge to the UK’s post- Brexit “continuity” trade arrangements.
• Privacy International & Ors v Foreign Secretary & Ors (the “Third Direction”) [2021] EWCA Civ 330 – Victoria was instructed for the Respondents in this high profile case concerning the lawfulness of the participation of undercover agents in criminality.
• Open Democracy v NHS (2021) – Victoria was instructed by the claimants in this challenge to the non- Covid processing of NHS data by Palantir. She continues to advise on this issue, and related matters.
• Good Law Project (2021) – Victoria was instructed by the Good Law Project in a potential challenge in relation to the poor nutritional quality of food boxes provided to clinically extremely vulnerable people in the pandemic.
• R (El Gizouli) v Home Secretary [2020] UKSC 10 – Victoria represented the Home Secretary in this high profile case concerning the death penalty. The Home Secretary’s decision to share evidence with the USA without requiring a death penalty assurance was upheld by the Divisional Court. The Supreme Court agreed that the decision had not been in breach of common law fundamental rights, but held that it had breached data protection law.
• R (Bayer plc) v NHS Darlington CCG & Ors [2020] EWCA Civ 449 – Victoria represented Roche, an Interested Party, in this challenge to the CCG’s policy of offering a drug as the preferred treatment outside of its marketing authorisation.
• R (Utilita) v BEIS [2019] EWHC 2612 – Victoria was instructed by the Claimants in this challenge in respect of Smartmeters, involving questions of EU energy and environmental law.
• Confidential advice on access and disability issues in respect of rail transport.
• Dulgheriu & Orthova v London Borough of Ealing [2019] EWCA Civ 1490 – Victoria was instructed by Liberty, intervening in the Court of Appeal hearing of this human rights challenge to Public Space Protection orders in respect of abortion clinics.
• R (ICAEW) v Lord Chancellor [2019] EWHC 461 (Admin)- Victoria was lead counsel for the Lord Chancellor in this high profile challenge to the Lord Chancellor’s decision not to allow the ICAEW to regulate legal services. The Divisional Court dismissed the challenge. 
• R (Muir) v Wandsworth Borough Council [2019] 4 All ER 422 - Victoria appeared as sole counsel for Mr Muir in this Court of Appeal case raising important issues in respect of the privatisation of open spaces. She successfully defended the judgment of the court below, limiting such privatisation, which impacts on all London parks, commons and other open spaces.
• A v R [2018] UKPC 4 - Victoria appeared as sole counsel in this Privy Council case (before Hale, Mance, Wilson, Hodge, Black JJSC). It concerned complex and novel questions of the development of customary law (as opposed to common law), of the quality of law needed to satisfy the ECHR, and of the jurisdiction both of the Sark court and of the Privy Council, compounded by the fact that many of the materials were in medieval French.
• Queens Park Rangers v the English Football League (Arbitration Award October 2017; appeal settled in July 2018) – Victoria was junior counsel for QPR in this competition and public law challenge to the Championship 2012 Financial Fair Play Rules.
• R (UNISON) v The Lord Chancellor [2017] UKSC 51; [2017] 3 WLR 409 – Victoria addressed a seven-judge Supreme Court in access to justice challenge to the introduction of fees in employment tribunals. The challenge raised issues of EU law, Human Rights and the common law.
• National Cyber Security Centre – Victoria has assisted the NCSC.
• NICE appeals for Roche – Victoria has appeared as sole counsel for Roche before the appeal panel of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on three occasions (December 2016; September 2016; December 2017).
• R (Hemming, trading as Simply Pleasures) v Westminster (first Supreme Court hearing: [2015] 2 WLR 1271; CJEU hearing: [2017] 3 WLR 317; second Supreme Court hearing: [2017] UKSC 50; [2017] 3 WLR 317) – Victoria was instructed in this case concerning the applicability of the Services Directive to licensing regimes (in particular, to the licensing of sex shops in Westminster). Initially instructed as junior counsel, when the case returned to the Supreme Court, she led the advocacy in respect of the questions of restitution as a matter of EU law and at common law.
• (1) Versloot Dredging BV & (2) SO DC Merwestone BV v HDI & Ors [2016] UKSC 45; [2017] AC 1  – Victoria addressed the Supreme Court in this case concerning the forfeiture of an insurance claim due to use of a fraudulent device, in particular whether this breaches A1P1 of the ECHR. The judgment (4:1, with Lord Mance dissenting) held that the law did not require a claim to be forfeit if a collateral lie had been told (contrary to the previously understood position).
• R (Minchinhampton Committee of Commoners & Ors) v DEFRA (settled 2017) – Victoria was instructed unled on behalf of a group of farmers. The case led to Defra reversing its previous policy in respect of farming on common land, with the potential to benefit farmers by many millions of pounds
• R (British American Tobacco) v Secretary of State for Health [2016] EWHC 1169 – Victoria was instructed, led by David Anderson QC, in this high profile challenge to the introduction of plain packaging for cigarettes.
• R (Roche Registration Limited) v the MHRA [2016] 4 WLR 46 - This high profile case concerned the first application of the pharmaceutical Penalties Regulation (which allows for a fine of 5% of turnover) anywhere in Europe. It related in particular to the legality of evidence collection by the MHRA. Victoria appeared for Roche in the High Court ([2015] 1 CMLR 6) and the Court of Appeal (on both occasions led by David Anderson QC).
• R (Barda) v the Mayor of London [2016] 4 WLR 20– Victoria was instructed unled on behalf of Occupy Democracy in this Human Rights Act challenge to the Mayor’s restrictions of its right to protest in Parliament Square Gardens. 
• R (Wall) v MoJ  (settled March 2014) - Victoria appeared unled in this judicial review concerning prison mother and baby units.
• Makanjuola v MoJ (settled Jan 2014) - Victoria was instructed unled in this speedy review of detention case.
• R (Hansen Palomares) v Lord Chancellor (settled December 2013) – Victoria appeared unled in this judicial review concerning legal aid.
• KM v Cambridgeshire County Council [2012] UKSC 23 - 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.
• R (Zagorski) v SS for Business, Innovation and Skills [2011] HRLR 6 - Victoria was led by Martin Chamberlain for the respondent in this case about the export of the anaesthesia used in lethal injections in the USA.
• Knights v Ministry of Justice (July 2010) - Victoria appeared unled in this direct HRA claim, brought by a prisoner, concerning the communication of his autobiography.
• 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.

• Open Democracy v NHS (2021) – Victoria was instructed by the claimants in this challenge to the non-Covid processing of NHS data by Palantir, which was withdrawn after the NHS accepted that it would consult and produce a DPIA before taking any such decision. She continues to advise on this issue, and related matters.
• Lloyd v Google [2021] UKSC 50 – Victoria was instructed by Richard Lloyd in this CPR 19.6 representative action, in respect of a mass data breach of the DPA 1998 by Google. The Supreme Court held that the type of damages claimed were not available for breach of the DPA 1998, but endorsed the use of the CPR 19.6 procedure.
• Williams v Experian (2021) – Victoria was instructed in this 19.6 representative action, following the ICO’s finding that Experian has breached the GDPR.
• Carpio v Facebook (2020) – Victoria was instructed in this 19.6 representative action in relation to the “Cambridge Analytica” scandal.
• Ryan v Google (2020) – Victoria represented Dr Ryan in this complaint to the Irish DPC.
• R (El Gizouli) v Home Secretary [2020] UKSC 10 – Victoria represented the Home Secretary in this high profile case concerning the death penalty. The Supreme Court held that the Home Secretary’s decision to share evidence with the USA without requiring a death penalty assurance breached data protection law.

Education

• Tapton Comprehensive School, Sheffield
• BA Hons Law, Trinity College Cambridge – First Class (2001).
• D.E.S. droit européen, Université Libre de Bruxelles – Grande Distinction (2002)
• BVC, Inns of Court School of Law - Very Competent (2003)
• Scholarships/Prizes:
  • Bedingfield Scholar, Gray’s Inn, 2002-3
  • Wiener-Anspach Scholar, U.L.B., 2001-2
  • 3 Verulam Buildings Prize for top paper in Equity, June 2001
  • Lizette Bentwich Prize for tripos, June 2001
  • Senior Scholar, Trinity College Cambridge 2001

Further Information

• Prior to taking Silk, Victoria was a member of the Treasury A Panel
• Languages: French
• Member of the Administrative Law Bar Association and of the Bar European Group.

• "A very compelling advocate." "Very bright and thorough. Exceptionally clear drafting." (European Law, Chambers & Partners 2024)
• "An excellent black-letter lawyer and exactly the kind of barrister you want to engage, for being very collaborative and committed." (Sport, Chambers & Partners 2024)  
• "Victoria was excellent, very clear and persuasive with a very modest style that was very effective." (Group Litigation, Chambers & Partners 2024)  
• "Her grasp of complex areas of law is incredibly impressive. She's very bright, easy-going and a strong team player, and is good at dealing with people no matter their level of seniority." (Civil Liberties & Human Rights, Chambers & Partners 2024)
• "Victoria is an extremely intelligent and effective advocate. She is great to work with too, very collegiate and effective."  (Data Protection, Chambers & Partners 2024)
• "A very skilful and professional barrister in what are often complex and high-profile cases." "Her drafting is really good and her advocacy is strong." (Administrative & Public Law, Chambers & Partners 2024)
• "Victoria is first rate and stands out for her experience in collective proceedings. She is fiercely bright and very personable." "Victoria is a top go-to competition barrister." "She is very nice to work with, an incredibly clear thinker, a clear drafter, and good with clients." "She is a very compelling advocate." (Competition, Chambers & Partners 2024)
• "Intellectually a genius. Fantastic rapport in court with judges." (Competition, Legal 500 2024)
• "She has a brilliant intellect and superb communication skills, coupled with wonderful judgement." (European Union Law, Legal 500 2024)
• "A strong advocate with a great passion for her cases." (Civil Liberties & Human Rights, Chambers & Partners 2023)
• "She drafts brilliantly. She's clever, rigorous in her analysis and incredibly intellectual." "An excellent barrister who is very quick to pick things up and very nice to work with. She is very supportive to the juniors working in her team." (Administrative & Public Law, Chambers & Partners 2023)
• "She is just brilliant and she will go a long way. Very clever, extremely thoughtful, very collaborative and just excellent to work with." (European Law, Chambers & Partners 2023)
• "Victoria Wakefield is very good to work with. She's very clear in her advice and is happy to debate and discuss points with the wider team." (Data Protection, Chambers & Partners 2023)
• "She is extremely bright and puts her cases across in an extremely compelling way." "Victoria is a very sharp and fluent advocate on her feet. She has the court's ear and they recognise her experience and expertise: she is a real asset." "An absolute superstar." (Group Litigation, Chambers & Partners 2023)
• "She has established herself as a go-to person for collective actions. In this very interesting and growing area, she is one of the people with the most experience. She has the ear of the court, too." (Competition, Chambers & Partners 2023)
• "Victoria is an exceptionally talented barrister. Judges trust her and are persuaded by her." (Data Protection, Legal 500 2023)
• "Very personable and responsive. Astute on the law and commercially focused." (Administrative Law & Human Rights, Legal 500 2023)
• "An excellent advocate, Victoria is a true expert in competition collective proceedings and a pleasure to work with." (Competition, Legal 500 2023)
• "She picks up on issues that other people don't and is skilled at distilling those issues for the client." "Very impressive on her feet and a good strategist." "She is commercial, easy to deal with and user-friendly." (Competition, Chambers & Partners 2022)
• "She is absolutely outstanding, a genuine expert. She is a force to be reckoned with in this space." "She is very well respected and peers cannot speak highly enough of her." (Data Protection, Chambers & Partners 2022)
• "Her communications skills are good in terms of listening and responding to complex elements within the case. She is good at explaining things in a way we understand." "Her understanding of the technical issues has been superb." (European Law, Chambers & Partners 2022)
• "Victoria is definitely one of my favourite silks to instruct. She is really good fun, very enthusiastic and works really hard." "She is very responsive, user-friendly and provides very clear, succinct advice." "She is incredibly hard-working and down to earth, despite the galaxy size of her brain, and she is brilliant to work with." (Civil Liberties & Human Rights, Chambers & Partners 2022)
• "She is unbelievably clever and just grasps things hours before everyone else." "A really strong advocate with a tremendous future ahead of her." (Administrative & Public Law, Chambers & Partners 2022)
• "She is dynamic and has great appellate experience." (Group Litigation, Chambers & Partners 2022)
• "Very personable and responsive. Astute on the law and commercially focused." (Civil Liberties and Human Rights, Legal 500 2022)
• "An outstandingly able lawyer who in an absolute delight to work with, and superb judgment."  (Administrative & Public Law, Legal 500 2022)
• "Victoria is a very strong junior silk, with excellent legal knowledge and commercial acumen, as well as being approachable, easy to work with etc. Basically all you would want for someone in her position."  (Competition, Legal 500 2022)
• "An absolute expert in this area. Knows all the issues and is involved in all the leading cases." (Data Protection, Legal 500 2022)
• "She is extremely bright and hugely experienced." "She is insightful, and is good at explaining things to lay clients." "She has a great manner with the CAT: very engaging, cheerful and a breath of fresh air in hearings." (Competition Law, Chambers & Partners 2021)
• "She is totally brilliant and super clever." "Victoria is a very compelling advocate." (European Law, Chambers & Partners 2021)
• "Very approachable and very thorough." (Civil Liberties and Human Rights, Chambers & Partners 2021)
• "She just has a magnetism which makes her a joy to listen to, no matter how dull the case." "Razor sharp, extremely industrious and much sought after. Among the best of all recent silks." (Administrative & Public Law, Chambers & Partners 2021)
• "She is brilliant. Incredibly quick, very intelligent, and a joy to work with." (Data Protection, Legal 500 2021)
• "Wonderful to work with, super smart and leads the team in an inclusive and supportive way." (Civil Liberties and Human Rights, Legal 500 2021)
• "A true team player and developing a specialism in class action litigation." (Competition, Legal 500 2021)
• "The complete package: brilliantly bright and extremely hard-working." (EU Law, Legal 500 2021)
• "She has an easy advocacy style, which does very well to boil down complex legal arguments to their core points." (Administrative & Public Law, Legal 500 2021)
• "A star of her generation. She is extremely bright, highly motivated and delightful to work with." "Not only does she quickly master complex matters and present them very clearly, she is also a real pleasure to work with and makes the most difficult cases much easier to manage." "Always fantastically well prepared." (Administrative & Public Law, Chambers & Partners 2020)
• "Razor-sharp, incredibly down to earth and a really safe pair of hands." "She is absolutely stunning when it comes to her strategic foresight of how cases can progress." "It is fantastic to be able to pick up the phone and bounce ideas around with her. You are always guaranteed an insightful answer." (Competition Law, Chambers & Partners UK & Global 2020)
• "Very clear and her advocacy style is well honed." "She has an engaging manner and holds the attention of her audience well." (European Law, Chambers & Partners 2020)
• "She gets on extremely well with her case teams." (Administrative & Public Law, Legal 500 2020)
• "A first-rate barrister." (Civil Liberties & Human Rights, Legal 500 2020)
• "She has been involved in many high-profile follow-on damages claims." (Competition, Legal 500 2020)
• "Her advocacy is excellent and her analytical skills first-rate." (EU Law, Legal 500 2020)
• "Extremely bright, with a very real desire to wholly understand the issues in a case. Her preparation is exemplary." "She's very intelligent, with a very confident and attractive advocacy style." (Administrative & Public Law, Chambers & Partners 2019)
• "An outstanding drafter who communicates well and has a good bedside manner." (Competition Law, Chambers & Partners UK & Global 2019)
• "She offers very good strategic advice and knowledge of the law, and brings a wider perspective on cases." (European Law, Chambers & Partners 2019)
• "She is clever, polished, hardworking and user friendly." (Administrative & Public Law, Legal 500 2018-19)
• "Clever and strategic." (Civil Liberties and Human Rights, Legal 500 2018-19)
• "A highly knowledgeable and very able European lawyer." (EU Law, Legal 500 2018-19)
• "Not only does Victoria quickly master complex matters and present them very clearly, she is also a real pleasure to work with and makes the most difficult cases much easier to manage." "She is thorough, detail-driven and very commercial." (Administrative & Public Law, Chambers & Partners 2018)
• "She is hard-working and user-friendly." "She is committed and engaged and a pleasure to work with." (Competition Law, Chambers & Partners 2018)
• "She is a successful silk in the making - thorough, detail-driven and very commercial." (European Law, Chambers & Partners 2018)
• "Clever and strategic; a silk-in-waiting." (Administrative & Public Law, Legal 500 2017)
• "Exceptionally talented and pragmatic." (Civil Liberties and Human Rights, Legal 500 2017)
• "One of the fastest intellects at the Bar." (EU Law, Legal 500 2017)
• "She combines common sense, intellectual rigour and a real willingness to roll up her sleeves." (European Law, Chambers & Partners 2017)
• "She is punchy - a great team player who it's great to work with. She gives as good as she gets even when confronting a silk." (Competition Law, Chambers & Partners 2017)
• "Combines common sense, intellectual rigour and a real willingness to roll up her sleeves." "A really good written style. Clear, communicative and enthusiastic. Very approachable and easy to work with." (Administrative & Public Law, Chambers & Partners 2017)
• "Exceptionally talented." (Administrative & Public Law, Legal 500 2016)
• "Approachable and pragmatic; a pleasure to work with." (Civil Liberties and Human Rights, Legal 500 2016)
• "Thorough, hard-working and comes up with creative points. One of the most talented juniors around." (Administrative & Public Law, Chambers & Partners 2016)
• "Wonderfully talented - she has an incredibly good legal mind and picks up on the nuances of a case much faster than other people. She has an aura about her that is incredibly impressive and she is just a delight to work with." (Competition law, Chambers & Partners 2016 and Chambers Global 2016)
• "Very impressive; incredibly bright and personable." (European Law, Chambers & Partners 2016)
• "A very good advocate. She is very clever and has an extremely nice way with clients." (European Law, Chambers & Partners 2016)
• "Both extremely diligent and proactive." (Inquests & Public Inquiries, Chambers & Partners 2016)
• "An absolute pleasure to work with" (Civil Liberties and Human Rights, Legal 500 2015)
• "A brilliant lawyer; communicative, thorough and reliable." (Administrative & Public Law, Legal 500 2015)
• "She is a delight to work with. She is extremely thorough and diligent in the advice she prepares, is extremely proactive and her advice is very solid." "She's clever, but accessible and happy to roll her sleeves up." (Administrative & Public Law, Chambers & Partners 2015)
• “Receives significant praise from clients and peers alike.” (Competition Law, Chambers & Partners 2015)
• "She has inexhaustible supplies of energy and is very, very good." (Competition Law, Chambers & Partners 2015)
• "An excellent speaker." "She is able to pick up a case and familiarise herself with it very quickly." (European Law, Chambers & Partners 2015)
• "She is hugely bright and hugely hard-working." (Inquests & Public Inquiries, Chambers & Partners 2015)
• "Takes complex facts and concepts and shapes them into effective strategy with remarkable speed and skill." (Administrative & Public Law, The Legal 500 2014)
• "Excellent." (Civil Liberties & Human Rights, The Legal 500 2014)
• "She is very personable and very hard-working, and can endear herself to clients and solicitors alike." "She is a very tenacious, efficient and clear advocate in court." (Chambers & Partners 2014, Administrative & Public law)
• Seen by peers as an up-and-coming name in the competition field. Her recent experience has demonstrated her strength in cases that include a commercial angle. She is also recommended for her public law expertise.” (Chambers & Partners 2014, Competition law)
• “She is highly industrious and her legal research skills are near perfect." "She is effortlessly able." (Chambers & Partners 2014, Competition law)
• “Her practice encompasses public, EU and competition law. She is experienced in acting before a number of EU courts and has recently been instructed by the UK government. Sources praise her superb research skills.” (Chambers & Partners 2014, European law)
• "Outstanding on EU general court practice and EU agricultural law." "Her judgement in court is striking." (Chambers & Partners 2014, European law)
• “Offers representation in public inquiries of the highest social and political importance. She is an expert in public law and human rights.” (Chambers & Partners 2014, Inquests & Public Inquiries)
• "She is invariably correct and performs with utter brilliance." "A bit of a phenomenon. She is painfully clever, very hard-working and very easy to get along with." (Chambers & Partners 2014, Inquests & Public Inquiries)
• "stunningly good tactically" with a "natural sense for litigation" Victoria Wakefield is an up-and-coming member of the UK's competition bar" (Global Competition Review "UK barrister survey" 2013)
• "Victoria Wakefield "is starting to make a big name for herself" in the public law sphere. She represented the Ministry of Defence in the Baha Mousa Inquiry, and acted for the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills in a judicial review challenge to the legality of the export from the UK of chemicals which are used in lethal injection executions in the USA. One senior barrister "was completely wowed by her. I can't think of any area that I would fault her on."" (Chambers & Partners 2013, Administrative & Public Law)
• Ranked in the Legal 500 2012 in Administrative & Public Law and Human Rights & Civil Liberties
• "Victoria Wakefield ... impresses solicitors with her public law expertise." (Chambers & Partners 2012, Administrative & Public Law)
• "the ‘tremendous' Victoria Wakefield is praised for her work on the Baha Mousa Public Inquiry." (Legal 500 2011, Civil Liberties and Human Rights)
• "wise beyond her years, has a brilliant manner, yet wears it modestly" (Legal 500 2009, Commercial litigation)