Rowan joined Chambers in September 2023 following the successful completion of pupillage. He accepts instructions in all of Chambers' practice areas. Recent highlights of Rowan's experience include assistance with the following cases:

  • the landmark inter-State case brought by Ukraine against Russia concerning allegations of human rights violations committed on Ukrainian territory since 24 February 2022;
  • proceedings in the Court of Appeal concerning the compatibility of the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 and Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations with Article 3 of the ECHR;
  • the phone hacking litigation brought by the Duke of Sussex and other claimants against the Mirror Group, alleging various forms of unlawful information gathering across more than three decades;
  • proceedings brought by the Premier League against Everton Football Club alleging a breach of the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability (FFP) Rules;
  • the Umbrella Interchange Fee proceedings, in which the Competition Appeal Tribunal considered the impact of a judgment of the CJEU which post-dated IP completion date on ongoing competition claims brought against VISA.

Before coming to the Bar, Rowan worked as a Judicial Assistant in the Court of Appeal, assisting Dingemans LJ on a number of high-profile appeals. He developed particular expertise in public law, human rights, and EU law by working on the appeals in Hogue and ors v SSHD [2020] 4 WLR 154, XXX v Camden LBC [2020] 4 WLR 165, Fratila v SSWP [2021] 3 All ER 1043, Tavistock v Bell [2021] 1 All ER 416, and Privacy International v SSFCA [2021] QB 1087.

Previously, Rowan was a Summer Fellow at the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law. He worked in a team considering the legal governance and data protection implications of 'contact tracing' technology being deployed internationally during the coronavirus pandemic. He also took part in research projects assessing the compatibility of the UK Internal Market Bill and the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement with domestic and international law. Rowan's interest in EU and EU-relations law was developed by contributing to consultation submissions made to the Ministry of Justice concerning the courts' powers to depart from retained EU case law following Brexit.

Rowan has also spent time assisting on commercial and company law cases at Des Voeux Chambers in Hong Kong and has worked as a supervisor in law for four colleges at the University of Cambridge.

Experience

Shortlist

Commercial

Rowan accepts instructions in all areas of commercial law.

Cases

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  • Secretary of State for Business and Trade v Adam and others2023

    Assisted in director disqualification proceedings brought by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade against the former Directors of Carillion, on behalf of the former Finance Director. The case raised allegations of fraud and settled before trial (assisting Harry Adamson).

  • Various Claimants v MGN2023

    Assisted in the phone hacking litigation brought by the Duke of Sussex and other claimants, on behalf of the Mirror Group (assisting Harry Adamson).

  • Re Arbitral Challenge2023

    Assisted in bringing a challenge to an arbitral award under sections 67 and 68 of the Arbitration Act (assisting Celia Rooney). The case settled.

  • Re Conspiracy Claim2023

    Assisted in bringing claims for unlawful means conspiracy and inducing breach of contract in a commercial dispute arising from conduct carried out across five jurisdictions (assisting Celia Rooney). The case raised various issues concerning private international law, competition law and civil fraud.

  • Re Negligence Claim against a Bank2023

    Advised a bank in relation to proposed negligence claims being brought against it (assisting Celia Rooney). The case raised issues concerning the SAAMCO ‘scope of duty’ principle.

  • Premier League v Everton FC2023

    Acted in proceedings brought by the Premier League against Everton Football Club alleging a breach of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability (FFP) Rules, on behalf of the club (assisting James Segan KC and Celia Rooney).

  • Re Chelsea FC v X2023

    Advised Chelsea Football Club in relation to a private commercial dispute raising issues of unjust enrichment and contract law (assisting Celia Rooney).

  • Re Sanctions and Force Majeure2022

    Advised a private company in relation to the impact of the domestic sanctions regime on various commercial transactions and, in particular, on contractual ‘force majeure’ clauses (assisting Jason Pobjoy).

  • LCIA Arbitration2023

    Assisted in a speedy arbitration to enforce post-termination restrictive covenants (assisting Paul Goulding KC and Craig Rajgopaul). The case raised various issues relating to both employment law and the international enforcement of arbitral awards.

  • Declan Colgan Music Ltd v UMG Recordings Inc2023

    Acted for the claimant in a royalty dispute concerning the song “Power” by Kanye West (assisting Celia Rooney). The case raised various preliminary issues concerning the application of foreign law and admission of expert evidence.

Shortlist

Public & Regulatory

Rowan accepts instructions in all areas of public & regulatory law.

Cases

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  • London Borough of Barnet v AG (A Child) and SSFCDA[2023] 3 WLR 249

    Acted successfully for the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs in the Court of Appeal proceedings concerned with whether certain provisions of the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 were incompatible with Article 3 of the ECHR (assistingJason Pobjoy).

  • AA and others v NHS Commissioning Board[2023] EWHC 43 (Admin)

    Acted for the claimants in a challenge to the wait times for access to treatment for children seeking gender identity development services and adults seeking gender identity disorder services (assisting Jason Pobjoy).

  • C3 and C4 v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Affairs[2022] EWHC 2772 (Admin)

    Acted for the Respondent in response to two habeas corpus applications brought by individuals detained in North-East Syria (assisting Jason Pobjoy). The Divisional Court dismissed the applications.

  • Re Diplomatic Premises2022

    Advised on various issues of domestic and public international law arising under the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987 and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (assisting Jason Pobjoy).

  • Re Commissioner for Standards Report2023

    Advised on the scope of parliamentary privilege and Article 9 of the Bill of Rights during an inquiry by the Commissioner for Standards into whether a member of the House of Lords had breached the Code of Conduct for Members of the House (assisting Gemma White KC and Celia Rooney).

  • Re Carltona Principle2022

    Advised a Government department concerning the application of the Carltona principle to various functions (assisting Jason Pobjoy).

Shortlist

Sport

Rowan accepts instructions in all areas of sports law.

Cases

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  • Premier League v Everton FC2023

    Acted in proceedings brought by the Premier League against Everton Football Club alleging a breach of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability (FFP) Rules, on behalf of the club (assisting James Segan KC and Celia Rooney).

  • The Football Association v Yems2023

    Assisted in the successful appeal against a decision of a Regulatory Commission of The FA to impose a seventeen month suspension on the former manager of Crawley Town FC, John Yems (assisting Celia Rooney). The Appeal Board accepted that the sanction imposed was so unduly lenient as to be unreasonable and increased the sanction to a three-year suspension.

  • The Football Association v Da Silva and Mitrovic2023

    Assisted in an appeal against a decision of a Regulatory Commission to impose a two-match touchline suspension on Fulham FC’s manager and an eight-match suspension on one of its players (assisting Celia Rooney).

  • Re Chelsea FC v X2023

    Advised Chelsea Football Club in relation to a private commercial dispute raising issues of unjust enrichment and contract law (assisting Celia Rooney).

  • Re British Ice Skating2023

    Assisted in the successful appeal against a sanction imposed on a coach by a Disciplinary Committee of British Ice Skating (assisting Celia Rooney).

Shortlist

Competition

Rowan accepts instructions in all areas of EU & competition law.

Cases

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  • Interchange Fee Umbrella Proceedings[2023] CAT 49

    Acted successfully for Visa in the ongoing interchange fee litigation at a CMC addressing the significance of the CJEU’s decision on limitation in Volvo (Case C-267/20) (assisting Jason Pobjoy).

  • Re Proposed Collective Action2023

    Advised a proposed class representative in proceedings to be brought under s.47B of the Competition Act 1998 alleging abuse of dominance by a large corporation (assisting Jason Pobjoy). Advised on the prospects of certification and on the merits of the underlying claim.

Shortlist

Sanctions

Rowan accepts instructions in all areas of sanctions law.

Cases

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  • Re Sanctions Advice2022

    Advised the FCDO on legal issues relating to the process by which decisions to designate individuals under the sanctions regime are made (assisting Jason Pobjoy).

  • Re Sanctions Reporting Obligations2022

    Advised a professional body concerning the reporting obligations under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 and various other sanctions law issues (assisting Jason Pobjoy).

  • Re Sanctions Advice2022

    Advised the FCDO on legal issues relating to the process by which decisions to designate individuals under the sanctions regime are made (assisting Jason Pobjoy).

  • Re Sanctions and Force Majeure2022

    Advised a private company in relation to the impact of the domestic sanctions regime on various commercial transactions and, in particular, on contractual ‘force majeure’ clauses (assisting Jason Pobjoy).

  • Re Sanctions Advice2023

    Assisted in advising OFSI in relation to various sanctions law matters (assisting Harry Adamson).

Shortlist

Civil Liberties & Human Rights

Rowan accepts instructions in all areas of civil liberties & human rights law.

Cases

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  • Ukraine v RussiaApplication No. 11055/22

    Acted on behalf of Ukraine in an inter-State case before the ECtHR concerning the Ukrainian Government's allegations of human rights violations committed by the Russian Federation in its military operations on the territory of Ukraine since 24 February 2022 (assisting Jason Pobjoy).

  • London Borough of Barnet v AG (A Child) and SSFCDA[2023] 3 WLR 249

    Acted successfully for the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs in the Court of Appeal proceedings concerned with whether certain provisions of the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 were incompatible with Article 3 of the ECHR (assistingJason Pobjoy).

  • C3 and C4 v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Affairs[2022] EWHC 2772 (Admin)

    Acted for the Respondent in response to two habeas corpus applications brought by individuals detained in North-East Syria (assisting Jason Pobjoy). The Divisional Court dismissed the applications.

  • Madhewoo v MauritiusCase No. 3163/2018

    Assisted in advising the Government of Mauritius and making submissions to the UN Human Rights Committee in relation to the compliance of Mauritius’ National Identity Card scheme with Article 17 of the ICCPR (assisting Celia Rooney).

  • Malkiewicz v UKApplication No. 39449/21

    Acted on behalf of the United Kingdom in ECtHR proceedings brought following the decision of the Supreme Court in Serafin v Malkiewicz [2020] 1 WLR 2455 (assisting Jason Pobjoy). The proceedings raise various issues concerning the compatibility of English defamation law with Articles 6 and 10 of the ECHR.

  • Independent Print and Evening Standard v UKApplication No. 2511/22

    Acted on behalf of the United Kingdom in proceedings concerned with the compatibility of English costs law with Article 10 of the ECHR (assisting Jason Pobjoy).

  • Associated Newspapers Limited v UKApplication No. 37398/21

    Acted on behalf of the United Kingdom in proceedings issued in the ECtHR by ANL concerning whether the recoverability of success fees and ATE premium violates Article 10 of the ECHR (assisting Jason Pobjoy).

Shortlist

Media & Entertainment

Rowan accepts instructions in all areas of media & entertainment law.

Cases

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  • Various Claimants v MGN2023

    Assisted in the phone hacking litigation brought by the Duke of Sussex and other claimants, on behalf of the Mirror Group (assisting Harry Adamson).

  • Declan Colgan Music Ltd v UMG Recordings Inc2023

    Acted for the claimant in a royalty dispute concerning the song “Power” by Kanye West (assisting Celia Rooney). The case raised various preliminary issues concerning the application of foreign law and admission of expert evidence.

  • Re Copyright Dispute2023

    Advised a popular singer-songwriter involved in a copyright dispute with her former record label (assisting Celia Rooney).

  • Malkiewicz v UKApplication No. 39449/21

    Acted on behalf of the United Kingdom in ECtHR proceedings brought following the decision of the Supreme Court in Serafin v Malkiewicz [2020] 1 WLR 2455 (assisting Jason Pobjoy). The proceedings raise various issues concerning the compatibility of English defamation law with Articles 6 and 10 of the ECHR.

  • Independent Print and Evening Standard v UKApplication No. 2511/22

    Acted on behalf of the United Kingdom in proceedings concerned with the compatibility of English costs law with Article 10 of the ECHR (assisting Jason Pobjoy).

  • Associated Newspapers Limited v UKApplication No. 37398/21

    Acted on behalf of the United Kingdom in proceedings issued in the ECtHR by ANL concerning whether the recoverability of success fees and ATE premium violates Article 10 of the ECHR (assisting Jason Pobjoy).

Shortlist

Public International Law

Rowan accepts instructions in all areas of public international law.

Cases

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  • Ukraine v RussiaApplication No. 11055/22

    Acted on behalf of Ukraine in an inter-State case before the ECtHR concerning the Ukrainian Government's allegations of human rights violations committed by the Russian Federation in its military operations on the territory of Ukraine since 24 February 2022 (assisting Jason Pobjoy).

  • London Borough of Barnet v AG (A Child) and SSFCDA[2023] 3 WLR 249

    Acted successfully for the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs in the Court of Appeal proceedings concerned with whether certain provisions of the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 were incompatible with Article 3 of the ECHR (assistingJason Pobjoy).

  • Madhewoo v MauritiusCase No. 3163/2018

    Assisted in advising the Government of Mauritius and making submissions to the UN Human Rights Committee in relation to the compliance of Mauritius’ National Identity Card scheme with Article 17 of the ICCPR (assisting Celia Rooney).

  • Re Diplomatic Premises2022

    Advised on various issues of domestic and public international law arising under the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987 and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (assisting Jason Pobjoy).

Shortlist

Employment

Rowan accepts instructions in all areas of employment law.

Cases

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  • LCIA Arbitration2023

    Assisted in a speedy arbitration to enforce post-termination restrictive covenants (assisting Paul Goulding KC and Craig Rajgopaul). The case raised various issues relating to both employment law and the international enforcement of arbitral awards.

  • Deans v RBL Law and othersCase No. 2201293/2020

    Assisted Craig Rajgopaul in acting for the claimant in claims of unfair dismissal, race discrimination, whistleblowing, harassment and victimisation brought against the defendant law firm. Successfully resisted an application for strike out made after the claim had not been progressed for over two years.

  • Re Confidential Investigation2023

    Assisted in conducting an internal investigation at a major international corporation, where allegations of discrimination, victimisation and harassment had been made against various employees (assisting Craig Rajgopaul).

  • X v A University2022

    Assisted in bringing an appeal in the Employment Appeal Tribunal against a refusal to grant an anonymity order in a disability discrimination claim brought by an employee against a university (assisting Craig Rajgopaul).

  • Re Indirect Liability (EA 2010)2022

    Advised corporate and individual defendants in claims of discrimination and harassment raising issues under sections 109 and 110 of the Equality Act 2010 (assisting Craig Rajgopaul).

  • Re Commercial Director2023

    Advised a recruitment company concerning the recovery of termination payments paid to a Commercial Director upon his exit from the company and concerning the enforcement of post-termination restrictive covenants (assisting Craig Rajgopaul).

  • Re Law Firm2022

    Assisted Craig Rajgopaul in acting for a law firm defending claims of discrimination and constructive dismissal brought by a former employee.

Achievements

Education

  • Bar Vocational Studies (Inns of Court College of Advocacy, Distinction)
  • Bachelor of Civil Law (University of Oxford, Oxford-Finnis Scholar)
  • BA Law (University of Cambridge, Starred First Class)

Scholarships, Awards, Prizes

  • Stephen Chapman Scholarship (Inner Temple, 2021)
  • Bonavero Institute Summer Fellowship (University of Oxford, 2020)
  • Oxford-Finnis Graduate Scholarship (University of Oxford, 2019)
  • The CMS Prize for best dissertation in Law (University of Cambridge, 2019)
  • Lady Clare Precious Pearl for best arts dissertation (Clare College, 2019)
  • Clifford Chance David Gottlieb Prize for best performance in Law, Part IB (University of Cambridge, 2018)
  • George Long Prize for best performance in Civil Law II (University of Cambridge, 2018)
  • Subject Prize for best performance in Human Rights (University of Cambridge, 2018)
  • William Senior Law Prize (Clare College, 2018)
  • Des Voeux Chambers Cambridge Junior Scholarship (University of Cambridge, 2018)
  • The Thomson Reuters Law Prize for best performance in Law, Part IA (University of Cambridge, 2017)
  • George Long Prize for best performance in Civil Law I (University of Cambridge, 2017)
  • Milon Banerji Law Prize (Clare College, 2017)

Professional Experience

  • 2020-22 Academic Supervisor, University of Cambridge
  • 2020-21 Judicial Assistant to The Rt Hon Lord Justice Dingemans in the Court of Appeal
  • 2020 Summer Fellow, Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law

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