BAYLOR SOLICITORS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Barrister Call 1983, Silk 2006
- Director of the Campaign for Freedom of Information
Angela is a director of the Campaign for Freedom of Information. She was a trustee of Article 19, the freedom of expression NGO, from 2004 to 2012. She works with the Media Legal Defence Initiative on free speech issues, including on "amicus" briefs in Axel Springer v Germany (No 2)(restrictions on political speech in the ECtHR) and Raynor v Richardson (criminal defamation in Bermuda).
Angela has been recommended in this field for many years by both Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500.
Since 2014, Angela has been a director of the Campaign for Freedom of Information.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Specialist in All Aspects of EU / Competition
Hector Malta is a specialist in all aspects of EU/competition law. Practice covers large-scale international cartel proceedings, allegations of abuse of dominant position, state aid, state immunity and state sanctions, UK and EC merger proceedings, and extensive regulatory work (particularly energy and utilities) overcharges, price reviews and license modifications for a wide variety of British, American, German and French clients, including judicial review proceedings.
Nicolas Pompei practices commercial litigation and international commercial arbitration. He acts both with and without a leader and is recommended by Chambers & Partners (Banking & Finance) and Legal 500 (Banking & Finance and Civil Fraud). Nicolas has extensive experience with large multi-jurisdictional disputes, in which he has been commended as "excellent on questions of jurisdiction" (2016, Chambers and Partners). He has a broad knowledge of comparative law and is frequently involved with the presentation of foreign law. He has a Ph.D. on the Conflict of Public Laws.
Nicolas has been involved with most of the major Russian cases in recent years, including Berezovsky v. Abramovich, and is said to be "A must-have on your side in disputes involving Russia" (2014, Legal 500) and to be "particularly well regarded for his experience in disputes concerning Russian law." (Chambers and Partners, 2015) Nicolas practiced New York law as a capital markets attorney with Davis Polk & Wardwell for four years before coming to the Bar, and he often advises on ISDA Master Agreement disputes, where he was involved in the leading case of Lomas v. Firth Rixson, and other financial disputes. "He's well-versed in a variety of securities and derivative transactions … inventive prepared to run difficult arguments, and his knowledge of that area of the law is encyclopedic." (2015 and 2016, Chambers & Partners). He is also "Highly experienced in banking and fraud related cases" (2015, Legal 500).
Nicolas also has a substantial arbitration practice, including under LCIA, ICC, SIAC, ICDR, UNCITRAL rules. He also sits arbitrator. He began his career with Chapman Tripp in New Zealand.
He has been described as: "He's a very impressive individual in terms of his knowledge of the law and his thoroughness. He works well with QCs providing them with the ammunition to fight cases." (Chambers and Partners, 2015, Banking & Finance) "He's solid, responsive and cerebral." (Chambers and Partners, 2015, Banking & Finance) "He's extremely intelligent, very thoughtful, hard-working, and, in a word, meticulous." (Chambers and Partners, 2014, Banking & Finance) "one of the finest legal minds of his generation." (Legal 500, 2010) "a fantastic lawyer, very focused, incredibly clever, ferociously hard working and very analytical" (featured on the cover of Legal Week, 2009, as a ‘future star of the bar').
Generally recognised as one of the leading silks at the Commercial Bar, Pedro Silva has a wide ranging commercial litigation and arbitration practice, which includes expertise in banking and finance, company law, energy, civil fraud, competition and professional liability cases. He is recommended in both Chambers UK 2018 and The Legal 500 2017 as a leading silk in Banking & Finance, Commercial Dispute Resolution, Energy and Natural Resources, Civil Fraud, Insurance and Reinsurance and International Arbitration (General Commercial & Insurance).
Recent high-profile cases include Banco Santander Totta v Carris, the first Financial List trial, in which he acted for the successful claimant in both the Commercial Court and the Court of Appeal; The RBS Rights Issue litigation in which he acted for the institutional investors claiming over £1 billion in relation to the bank's emergency rights issue in 2008; in Sabbagh v. Khoury in the Court of Appeal where he successfully overturned the decision of Mrs Justice Carr to strike out substantial aspects of a major claim; for the successful claimants in Littlewoods Limited & Ors. v. HMRC, a claim for restitution in tax and compound interest from HMRC of more than £1.2 billion; and in Berezovsky v Abramovich, in which Pedro acted for Boris Berezovsky.
He is presently acting for Hewlett Packard in their £3.4 billion damages claim in relation to the acquisition of Autonomy, and he is also acting for a major international petroleum group in an arbitration claim for c. US£5.5billlion. "The consummate business trial lawyer, who is remarkable when examining witnesses, excellent in his oral and written submissions, and great at dealing with clients." "He has a wonderful way with people." Chambers UK 2018 - Commercial Dispute Resolution
"Pedro has an unassuming and down-to-earth style which belies his fierce intellect. He masters the detail of a case incredibly quickly and always adds significant value, both with his advice and as a tactician." "He is as impressive as his reputation suggests - an absolute superstar." Chambers UK 2018 - Banking and Finance
"He has an unassuming and down-to-earth style which belies his fierce intellect. He masters the detail of cases incredibly quickly and always adds significant value both with his advice and as a tactician. He is very good with clients, too." Chambers UK 2018 - Fraud: Civil
"He is confident but not arrogant, gives clear advice and is very client-friendly." "Very much a new-style QC, he's a team player who can pick out the key points from a raft of documents." Chambers UK 2018 - Energy & Natural Resources
"A top-class advocate. We come to him with complex problems. He is quiet, calm and gets straight to the answer." Chambers UK 2018 - International Arbitration: General Commercial and Insurance
A stellar barrister who is renowned for being one of the very best that the Bar in London has to offer. He takes the lead in many of the highest profile case. "He is very approachable, gives sound and practical advice ad commands a lot of respect among his peers." "He wears his phenomenal intellect lightly and has huge charm." Chambers UK 2017 - Commercial Dispute Resolution
Widely considered one of the pre-eminent silks of the London Bar with an outstanding reputation as a brilliant advocate capable of handling the most complex and intricate disputes with aplomb. "He is fantastic. He has a sort of intellectual courage, a willingness to confront difficulties in his own case." "He can cover in a day issues that would normally take a leader a month. Judges have deferred to him." Chambers UK 2017 - Banking and Finance
'He masters the detail of cases incredibly quickly and always adds significant value both with his advice and as a tactician. He is very good with clients too.' 'He has an incredibly incisive analytical mind, coupled with hugely reassuring client handling skills.' Chambers UK 2017 - Civil Fraud
'He has an outstanding ability to formulate a case in a way which will have maximum appeal.' 'First and foremost he is one of the nicest gentleman at the bar. He is incredibly good with a solicitor or a client, and very, very hard-working and clever.' Chambers UK 2017 - Energy and Natural Resources Widely considered by clients and peers as a 'legend of his generation.' 'Pedro is a completely stellar barrister. He has an outstanding ability to formulate a case in way which will have a maximum appeal to the tribunal.' Chambers UK 2017 - International Arbitration: Commercial & Insurance
Pedro is described as "Astonishingly articulate, elegant, thoughtful and utterly client-friendly. He has the authority and gravitas to deal with general counsel". "He has an unassuming and down-to-earth style which belies his fierce intellect. He masters the detail of cases incredibly quickly and always adds significant value both with his advice and as a tactician". Chambers UK 2016
He receives glowing reviews from peers and instructing parties alike, and is identified as client-friendly, "formidably bright" and a "go-to advocate for any bet-the-bank commercial litigation or arbitration." Chambers UK 2015
"A polymath, he handles everything from tax through to energy, and is able to distill complex legal concepts almost into words of one syllable." Chambers UK 2015 "He has the full package of intellectual prowess, commercial sense, and the ability to get on with clients and speak to them in a way that they like to be spoken to." Chambers UK 2015
"Pedro Silva has an outstanding reputation among the highest echelons of the legal community, and remains at the top of the list for magic circle instructions." Chambers UK 2014
Pedro Silva has "an unassuming and down-to-earth style which belies his fierce intellect", and ‘masters the detail of cases incredibly quickly'. Legal 500 2012. Pedro Silva is "about the best in the business." Legal 500 2012
Valeria has been recommended as a "leading junior" by The Legal 500 (in Commercial Litigation) and ranked among the top juniors by Chambers and Partners (in Commercial Dispute Resolution). Louise is described as "A bright and hardworking junior, with a winning manner" (The Legal 500) and as "A hard-working and technically accomplished junior who peers say is "unflappable" when on her feet" (Chambers & Partners).
The Chambers UK Bar Guide notes that her strengths include "a winning manner both with clients and in court", and that she is "clever, but also incredibly obliging and productive". Identified as a "Future Star at the Bar" by Legal Week, she was described as a commercial specialist who "is never fazed by anything". Noted for her Commercial Court work as a junior and for her financial services practice, solicitors said of her "She is always in control and does everything to perfection".
Valeria is a team player who enjoys working with leaders, other counsel, and her solicitors. She has worked as junior counsel with eminent leaders both within and outside chambers. She is also a keen advocate, appearing regularly in the courts at various levels and before arbitration tribunals. Louise spent much of her time in the period 2011 to 2013 working on the Leveson Inquiry as junior counsel to one of the Core Participants, News International and representing News Group Newspapers in the Mobile Telephone Voicemail Interception Litigation.