Victoria’s regulatory/EU/competition law practice includes energy, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, tobacco, cosmetics, medical devices, commercial agents, procurement, human rights and general regulatory work. She undertakes significant advisory work (in particular in relation to competition matters). She regularly appears in both the Court of Justice of the European Union and national courts (including the Competition Appeal Tribunal, the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court) as well as in arbitration.

Important cases include:

In the national courts

• Merricks v Mastercard [2019] EWCA Civ 674 – Victoria represents Walter Merricks in this 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. In April 2019, Mr Merricks was victorious in the Court of Appeal, and his application for a Collective Proceedings Order has now been remitted to the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
• Lloyd v Google [2018] EWHC 2599 – Victoria is instructed by Richard Lloyd in this Data Protection Act representative action, in respect of a mass data breach by Google. In July 2019, the Court of Appeal will hear Mr Lloyd’s appeal against the first instance judgment of Warby J on service out of the jurisdiction.
• MGR & Ors v HMRC & BMW [2019] EWCA Civ 485 – Victoria is 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 (El Gizouli) v Home Secretary [2019] EWHC 60 (Admin) – Victoria represents 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 will hear the appeal against that decision in July 2019. The grounds of appeal include breach of EU data protection law.
• R (Utilita) v BEIS (2019) – Victoria is instructed by the Claimants in this challenge in respect of Smartmeters, involving questions of EU energy and environmental law. It is listed to be heard in July 2019.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

In the Court of Justice of the European Union

• 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.

The stand-out feature of Victoria’s public law practice is the stellar quality of the work.  As a junior, she was lead counsel in high profile cases in the Court of Appeal (Muir), the Divisional Court (ICAEW) and the Privy Council (A v R). She shared the advocacy with her leader in ground breaking cases in the Supreme Court (Hemming [2017] UKSC 50 and Unison [2017] UKSC 51)).  Of course, this high-level practice is combined with advisory and first instance work across the full scope of administrative & public law.

Important cases include:

• R (El Gizouli) v Home Secretary [2019] EWHC 60 (Admin) – Victoria represents 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 will hear the appeal against that decision in July 2019. The grounds of appeal include breach of EU data protection law.
• R (Utilita) v BEIS (2019) – Victoria is instructed by the Claimants in this challenge in respect of Smartmeters, involving questions of EU energy and environmental law. It islisted to be heard in July 2019.
• Privacy International & Ors v Foreign Secretary & Ors (the “Third Direction”, 2019) – Victoria is instructed for the Respondents in this case before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal. It concerns the lawfulness of the participation of undercover agents in criminality.
• Dulgheriu & Orthova v London Borough of Ealing (2019) – Victoria is instructed by Liberty, seeking to intervene 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.

Victoria specialises in cross-over cases, with a commercial element alongside a competition, EU or public law element. For example, over the past year or so she has appeared as lead counsel for the SFO in the Tesco overstatement of profits civil claim (Omers Administration Corp & Ors v Tesco), against Google in the mass DPA representative action under CPR 19.6 (Lloyd v Google), and seeking restitution at common law and EU law in the Supreme Court (Hemming).

Important cases include:

• Omers Administration Corp & Ors v Tesco [2019] EWHC 109 – Victoria was lead counsel for the Serious Fraud Office in the Tesco overstatement of profits civil claim. This included numerous heavy multi-party hearings.
• Lloyd v Google [2018] EWHC 2599 – Victoria is instructed by Richard Lloyd in this Data Protection Act representative action, in respect of a mass data breach by Google. In July 2019, the Court of Appeal will hear Mr Lloyd’s appeal against the first instance judgment of Warby J on service out of the jurisdiction.
• Confidential arbitration (2017) – Victoria was instructed in an arbitration in relation to a regulated contract in the railway sector.
• 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)– Although initially an EU law case, when the case returned to the Supreme Court it related solely to restitution. Victoria 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. 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).
• Confidential arbitration (2016)– Victoria acted (initially unled, and then with Tim Lord QC) in a significant joint venture dispute for a major brand, in LCIA arbitration. 
• SULCo v Ariadne [2015] EWHC 2595 - Victoria successfully acted unled in this High Court contractual dispute relating to an implied term.​
• RFU v Blink (settled 2014) - This is a breach of contract claim involving media rights, in which Victoria was instructed unled.
• Sarclad v APT & Ors - Victoria was instructed (initially unled, and then led by Thomas Plewman QC) in this copyright/confidential information claim in the High Court.
• Amber Solicitors v the Lord Chancellor - Victoria acted (unled) for the defendant in this contractual dispute arising out of the Duty Solicitor Scheme.
• MWM Boardroom Consulting v OVO (settled November 2013) - Victoria was instructed (unled) in this contractual dispute in the High Court.
• Castmasters v Sarclad (settled November 2013) – Victoria was instructed (unled) for the Claimant in this contractual dispute concerning agency activities in China,  with the trial set down for hearing in the High Court in early 2014.
• Jones v Ricoh [2012] EWHC 348 (Ch), in which 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.

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.

• "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)