Trading Standards Law

We frequently handle complex and lengthy cases involving individuals or businesses. Our barristers have conducted major trials involving Trading Standards Law. Notable cases in which St Pauls barristers have been involved include:

• March 2018: Jonathan Sandiford (now QC) leading Denise Breen-Lawton and George Hazel-Owram successfully prosecuted the largest ever internet fraud brought by National Trading Standards. The Defendants concerned were jailed for a total of 35 years for defrauding consumers out of £37m.
• January 2018: James Lake, Prosecuting Counsel for West Yorkshire Trading Standards (WYTS) secured the longest sentence known for a WYTS case of this nature.  The investigation into Mr Morrison and Mr Towers’ company’s poor workmanship – and failure to refund deposits – turned out to be the worst case of rogue trading that officers from West Yorkshire Trading Standards had ever come across.
• November 2017: Alasdair Campbell, leading Danielle Graham, successfully prosecuted two employees of Vance Miller’s kitchen businesses for deliberately and dishonestly selling kitchens of exceptionally poor quality, at Manchester Crown Court.
• March 2017: James Lake, leading Hannah Lynch, represented West Yorkshire Trading Standards in a successful prosecution, under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Regulations 2008, of two men whose company had systematically coerced dozens of elderly and vulnerable people into paying for new driveways.
• June 2016: Jonathan Sandiford successfully prosecutes six employees of Vance Miller’s kitchen businesses for engaging in misleading practices and unauthorised use of trademarks at Manchester Crown Court.

Chambers have seen cooperation between Trading Standards Departments and the other regulators, especially where there are investigations in relation to offences under the Consumer Protection from Trading Regulations, 2007. As regulators seem to have been given the ‘green light’ to impose huge fines on various types of a company who are involved in offences against consumers, it seems that this type of litigation is bound to grow over the next few years.

The area of trading standards law and procedure is complex, and we would encourage seeking assistance at an early stage to ensure the best possible advice can be obtained for you or your company.  Click here for more information on the National Trading Standards work we undertake in the criminal courts.