Site navigation

"He's legendary - that's accurate."

Chambers & Partners 2020

Fred has been involved in consumer law since the Consumer Credit Act 1974 was passed. In addition to advisory work on consumer issues, he has appeared in a number of significant cases over the years including prices, advertising, food safety, franchise agreements, timeshare and timeshare credit, health and safety, product safety, weights and measures and trade descriptions (now unfair commercial practices).  His consumer credit work has involved extensive drafting of regulated agreements under the various regulatory regimes under the 1974 Act, litigation on technical issues and issues such as the former extortionate credit bargain regime as well as representing creditors in licensing matters with the OFT (now the FCA) spanning some 35 years.

  • Events
  • News
  • Notable cases
    • CFL v Gertner [2020] CTLC 338:a long-running case culminating in the Court of Appeal as to whether an agreement in a schedule to a Tomlin Order can be a regulated consumer credit agreement under Article 60B of the Regulated Activities Order 2001;
    • Ioannou v Werner [2020]EWHC 2513 (Ch): whether substantial secured lending was under a regulated mortgage contract within Article 61 of the Regulated Activities Order 2001, which in turn depended on the borrower’s use of the property;
    • J P Morgan v Northern Rock Plc [2014] CTLC 33:  the first case to deal with statutory statements under Section 77A of the 1974 Act with the Chancery Division deciding when the obligation to give the first such statement arises if a non-compliant one is given;
    • R v UK Parking Controls [2012] CTLC 48: one of the first Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) cases on the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008;
    • Kaye v Nu Skin UK Ltd [2012] CTLC 69: a High Court case dealing with a franchise in the UK with a USA arbitration clause;
    • Helden v Strathmore Ltd [2011] CTLC 58: a Court of Appeal case on the issue of first residential mortgages under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;
    • Brandon v American Express Services Europe Ltd [2011] CTLC 157: a decision of the Court of Appeal on consumer credit default notices;
    • Teasdale v HSBC [2010] CTLC 12: a case decided by the Court of Appeal relating to the costs of discontinuance of actions brought by consumers in respect of the enforceability of consumer credit agreements;
    • Carey v HSBC [2009] CTLC 103: a High Court case on the question of the rights of consumers to have copies of regulated consumer credit agreements;
    • Band of Scotland v Euclidian [2007] CTLC 151: part of significant High Court litigation on the drafting of cancellable consumer credit agreements in respect of litigation funding.
  • Directory quotes
    • “A man with encyclopaedic knowledge of consumer law.” “A tremendous character who is a technically superb lawyer.” Chambers & Partners, 2022
    • “Still a top class operator in the consumer field.” “Fred’s knowledge of this subject is second to none, and he manages to present it to clients in a straightforward, manageable way” “An industry authority on consumer credit” Legal 500, 2022 
    • “He’s legendary – that’s accurate.” “He just knows everything.” “Fred delivers market-savvy advice with a dose of realism.” “He’s consumer law through and through; he certainly knows his eggs.” Chambers & Partners, 2020
    • “Fred has made the Consumer Credit Act his own.” “He bounds in, fit as a butcher’s dog, and gives a punchy performance in court.” “He is rightly viewed as the guru. He combines tactical reach with great commercial sense and a very fine tuned strategic thought process. He is the best in town.” Chambers & Partners 2018
    • “His experience shines through and he combines his technical knowledge with a keen commercial acumen.” Legal 500, 2017
    • “An excellent lawyer; highly knowledgeable and user-friendly, and the best in his area of expertise.” “Without equal; no-one knows more consumer law than him.” Legal 500, 2015
    • “Tremendous and trusted by some of the biggest names in the world.” “He’s seen it all and gets to the nub of the issue quickly.” “A complete master of consumer credit law.” “Has an enviable reputation in consumer credit and trading standards work, and has been practising exclusively in this area for longer than anyone else.” Chambers & Partners 2015
    • “a tremendous reputation. . . . there is little he has not experienced before in this field.” Chambers & Partners 2014
    • “Fred Philpott is ‘the doyen of the Consumer Credit Bar’” Chambers & Partners 2013
    • “’Rough diamond’ Fred Philpott is considered to be ‘peerless’ by market observers, who remark upon his ‘encyclopaedic knowledge of legislation … Solicitors praise his ‘considerable commercial acumen and strategic and tactical insight’ as well as his ‘down to earth manner’” Chambers & Partners 2012
  • Publications

VAT number: 244808356