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Oliver Assersohn

Called to bar 2003

Clerk Chris Gittins Tel: 020 7353 6381
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Oliver Assersohn specialises in commercial litigation and has significant experience of white-collar crime cases. Primarily an advocate, advisory work is an important part of his practice and he has been instructed both alone and as part of a wider team by private individuals, blue chip organisations and public bodies such as the Financial Services Authority. Two particular areas of expertise are financial services regulation and employment law.

Financial Services Regulation

Regulatory and Commercial.  Oliver is the only barrister to have been seconded to the Regulatory Decisions Committee of the FSA (reported in The Times). Oliver has continued to advise the RDC on several complex matters. The RDC decides contested enforcement decisions and Oliver therefore has an excellent insight into how such matters are dealt with and how to present cases to the RDC. Oliver has acted for various private clients and institutions in relation to their obligations under the regulatory regime. Oliver was led by Paul Garlick QC in the Accountants' Joint Disciplinary Scheme's action against KPMG and a partner in respect of the audit of Independent Insurance. KPMG were ordered to pay a £½ million fine and £1.15 million costs.

Criminal. Oliver represented Mr Rimmington as junior counsel in the first FSA initiated prosecution for insider trading to end in acquittals (R v (1) King (2) McFall (3) Rimmington [2010] Southwark Crown Court). Oliver was led by Richard Lissack QC. Previously, Oliver acted for the FSA as junior counsel in the first ever FSA initiated prosecution for insider trading (R v (1) McQuoid (2) Melbourne [2009] Southwark Crown Court). McQuoid and Melbourne were convicted. Both cases, groundbreaking in different ways, were reported extensively in publications such as the The Times and The Lawyer. The cases follows on from Oliver's experience of other significant white-collar crime cases which include a conspiracy to defraud HSBC of £12 million and a separate £6million money laundering case. He currently sits on the SFO's list of approved Counsel.

Associations and Publications. Oliver is a founder member of the Financial Services Lawyers Association and sits on its Executive Committee. Founded a little over two years ago the association has become the leading association for financial services lawyers with membership of over 1,000. Oliver is also registered at the DIFC in Dubai and recently participated in the UK Trade & Industry trade mission to Dubai. Oliver has written articles for numerous publications including Butterworths' Journal of International Finance and Banking Law, New Law Journal, International Corporate Rescue and AIMA (Japan). He has co-written a chapter on insider trading in a book recently published by Lexis. He has given talks to City firms and has a particular interest in hedge fund regulation.

Employment Law

Regulatory and Commercial. Oliver provides advice and advocacy for both Claimants and Respondents. He has a particular expertise in employment law disputes in the financial services sector. He has experience across a range of areas including unfair dismissal, allegations of fraud, discrimination, breach of contract, TUPE and equal pay. Oliver regularly appears in the Employment Tribunal dealing with complex issues of law and fact. He has represented clients in the Employment Appeal Tribunal (Harris v Towergate London Market Limited) and High Court (X v Y [a case enforcing restrictive covenants]). Clients have included Abbey National, investment funds, Royal Mail, the British Association of Journalists (to whom he was standing counsel for many years), Transport for London, London Underground and local government.

Criminal. Oliver has experience of cases involving allegations of criminal conduct against employees including fraud and breaches of health and safety work (e.g. HSE v Ward [junior counsel for a client accused of health and safety breaches arising from a fatal explosion at an old people's home whose case was thrown out as an abuse of process]).

Associations and Publications. Oliver has given training to law firms and HR professionals. Oliver is a member of ELA and ELBA and recently published an article in ELA's magazine on Financial Services Issues for Employment Lawyers.

Areas of practice
Employment & Discrimination, Financial Services, Commercial & Business, Public Access