Olivia represents clients in respect of Professional Negligence claims arising in the areas of Chancery and Commercial law in which she practices with financial services being a particular specialty. She represents both claimants and professional advisers in defending such claims.
Olivia has uncompromising standards and is utterly committed to her cases, her conscientious approach is well suited to complicated finance, fraud and deception cases. She is recognised for her meticulous preparation and attention to detail, combined with thorough, robust and tenacious advocacy and yet retains a down to earth and pragmatic approach to both people and their disputes. She has developed the ability to digest complex reports as well as detailed financial statements and enjoys the challenge of explaining difficult issues in terms acceptable to, and understandable by, her client. She adopts a clear and analytical approach with pragmatism in abundance and has been commended for her down to earth approach.
She is experienced in advising and appearing both for and against financial institutions and in advising in financial disputes including cases where customers have suffered the consequences of misrepresentation and breach of lending agreements. She has extensive experience of disputes affecting financial services professionals and consumers and in particular claims for breach of duty by IFAs.
More recently in 2013 she has been instructed in multi-party litigation against individuals, banks and other financial institutions both in the UK and overseas on behalf of investors seeking recompense following illegal or negligent advice. These include those investors in property in Cyprus being pursued by Alpha Bank and further investors in property in Croatia, Bulgaria and Montenegro via Ready2Rent/Ready2Invest.
She is on the panel of nominated counsel for risk warning, an organisation which aims to assist investors that have been wronged and further seeks to attempt to clean up the industry for financial services along the way. Further details can be found at www.riskwarning.co.uk.
Recommendations
“Olivia is highly intelligent and a quick thinker. She doesn't shy away from a firm opinion and is accessible, responsive and incredibly easy to work with.”
Legal 500 2024 – Commercial Litigation
“Olivia Chaffin-Laird impresses with her performance in cases concerning contractual disputes, professional negligence, construction and finance. She is praised for her breadth of expertise and business-minded approach. Her diverse clientele includes investors, bankers and company directors, among others.”
Chambers UK 2024 – Commercial Dispute Resolution
"Olivia is extremely well prepared. She is a formidable opponent."
Chambers UK 2023 - Commercial Dispute Resolution
"Olivia is thorough and ensures no page is unturned. Clients trust her as a reliable barrister. She has extensive knowledge and expertise in insolvency and director disputes."
Legal 500 2023 - Commercial Litigation
"She provided very good written advice in which she considered all the angles. She really gave us and the clients confidence in where we stood."
Chambers UK 2022 - Commercial Dispute Resolution
"On the matters I have worked with Olivia on, I have been impressed by her technical ability and firm grasp of the law."
Legal 500 2022 - Commercial Litigation
“She is incredibly approachable and goes beyond her instructions. She thinks outside the box and is a passionate advocate.”
Chambers UK 2021 - Commercial Dispute Resolution
“A commendable advocate who is able to manage client expectations and secure positive outcomes.”
Legal 500 2021- Commercial Litigation
“She has the ear of the judges – they know that she is reliable and trustworthy.”
Chambers UK 2020
Impresses with her performance in cases concerning contractual disputes, professional negligence, construction and finance. She is praised for her breadth of expertise and business-minded approach. Her diverse clientele includes investors, bankers and company directors, among others. “She is very technical and very thorough.”
Chambers UK 2019
“Highly experienced in financial disputes.”
Legal 500 2019
Notable Cases
London Executive Aviation Ltd v Royal Bank of Scotland Plc [2017] EWHC 1516 (Ch)
(1) Group Seven Ltd (2) Rheingold Management Inc v Ali Nasir and 9 Ors : Equity Trading Systems Ltd v Notable Services LLP and 7 Ors [2017] EWHC 2466 (Ch)
Appointments
January 2013: Junior Counsel to the Crown Chancery, Commercial, Insolvency
January 2008: Treasury Counsel in the Midlands Chancery, Commercial, Insolvency, Property
Memberships
Midlands Chancery and Commercial Bar Association [MCCBA]
Commercial Bar Association [COMBAR]
Technology and Construction Bar Association [TECBAR]
Qualifications
LLB Europe with French
Universite de Montpellier – Diplome de droit francais fondamentale
