Tamara Oppenheimer
Fountain Court Chambers
Temple
London , EC4Y 9DH United Kingdom
+44 (0)20 7583 3335
Fax +44 (0)20 7353 0329
Tamara Oppenheimer

Tamara Oppenheimer

Call date

2002

Practice Areas

Tamara Oppenheimer has a broad commercial and civil practice (including all aspects of commercial litigation), specialising in the following areas:

  • Banking & Finance;
  • General Commercial Litigation;
  • Professional Negligence;
  • Insurance & Reinsurance;
  • Conflicts of law & Private International Law;
  • Arbitration;
  • Financial Services/Regulatory; and
  • Civil Fraud.

Recommendations (Practitioners' Guides)

Recommended as a leading junior for Commercial Dispute Resolution in Chambers and Partners.

Described in Chambers and Partners 2009, 2010 and 2011 as “extremely talented”, “very responsive and easy to get on with”, "highly experienced, represents great value for money and knows how to deal with the demands of a modern commercial practice,” “another of the set’s highly regarded juniors” and “earns praise for her impressive advocacy and responsiveness.”   

Education

BCL, Christ Church, Oxford (distinction)
Diploma in Law, City University (distinction)
BA (Hons) Philosophy Politics and Economics, Merton College, Oxford (first class)

Prizes & Scholarships

Exhibition (Merton College, Oxford)
Duke of Edinburgh Entrance Scholarship (Inner Temple)

Appointments

Junior Counsel to the Crown (C Panel)

Other Qualifications

Former solicitor

Professional Experience

Tamara Oppenheimer is a barrister with experience in a number of different areas of commercial and civil law. She was formerly a solicitor at a magic circle firm. She practises in the following areas: banking & finance, all aspects of commercial litigation, professional negligence, insurance & reinsurance, conflicts of law & private international law, arbitration, financial services/regulatory and civil fraud. Recent examples of her practice are set out below.

Recent Practice

Banking & Finance

Acted for banks (both retail and investment) and provided advice in a wide variety of disputes and matters, including the following:

  • Acted for Barclays in FSA v Sinaloa Gold plc and others [2011] EWHC 144 (Ch). Barclays successfully intervened in an application by the FSA to remove the undertaking in damages given to third parties in a freezing order obtained by the FSA against the defendants. The decision has been appealed and judgment of the Court of Appeal is awaited.
  • Acting for/advising Barclays in relation to various claims arising out of the sale of payment protection insurance.
  • Acting for Natwest in a claim for breach of contract/misrep in connection with a swap agreement.
  • Acting (with Timothy Howe QC) for a major French bank in connection with the breach of swap agreement.
  • Acting for Natwest in a claim for breach of contract/negligence arising out of the registration of defaults with credit agencies.
  • Acting for Barclays in a claim for recovery of loan repayments in connection with a film finance scheme.
  • Acting for Capital Home Loans in connection with various mortgage and guarantee related claims.
  • Acted for the third defendant, Palladio SCI, in Arbuthnot Latham & Co v Tradex (Cayman Islands) Limited and others [2011] EWHC 929 (Comm), a claim concerning monies due under a loan agreement and guarantee.
  • Acted (with Timothy Howe QC) for a foreign telecommunications company in connection with breach of contract claims brought by two major investment banks.
  • Acted for a fund manager (with Timothy Howe QC and Patrick Goodall) in arbitration proceedings in connection with claims arising out of the “credit crunch”.
  • Acted for RBS in a claim for breach of contract and unlawful interference in connection with a swap agreement.
  • Acted for the Bank of Scotland plc in Bank of Scotland plc v Paul Sutton, a claim in connection with a guarantee.
  • Acted for/advised Natwest in connection with a breach of warranty claim.
  • Acted for the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (with David Railton QC and Richard Handyside QC) in Financial Services Compensation Scheme v Abbey National Treasury Services and NDF Ltd, a negligence/breach of statutory duty claim relating to the alleged mis-selling of structured capital at risk products to retail investors.
  • Acted (with Christopher Carr QC) for Dresdner  in connection with a dispute arising out of an Italian securitisation.
  • Acted for the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (with Timothy Howe QC) in a claim relating to its investment in a textiles project in Central Asia.
  • Acted for Barclays in a claim brought by a number of solicitors concerning the misappropriation of funds by a partner.
  • Advised a major investment bank (with Bankim Thanki QC) in connection with the capacity of certain entities to enter into derivatives transactions.

Commercial Litigation

  • Acting (with Michael Crane QC) for the first defendant in Excalibur Ventures LLC v Texas Keystone and others concerning oil concessions in Iraqi Kurdistan.
  • Acting (with Michael Crane QC) for the defendant in a claim by a major airline in connection with an IT services agreement.
  • Acted (with Michael Crane QC) for insurers of a major manufacturer in connection with a multi million dollar claim by an airline company arising out of a mid-air plane collision.
  • Acted (with Timothy Howe QC) for the claimants in Boris Berezovsky and others v Edmiston & Co Ltd and others [2010] EWHC 1883 (Comm), [2010] 2 CLC 126 a claim relating to unpaid brokerage in connection with the sale of a yacht.
  • Acted for the third defendant, Palladio SCI, in Arbuthnot Latham & Co v Tradex (Cayman Islands) Limited and others [2011] EWHC 929 (Comm), a claim concerning monies due under a loan agreement and guarantee.
  • Acted for the claimant in Bharwani v Krastev, a claim for monies due under an agreement relating to the purchase of apartments in a seaside resort in Bulgaria.
  • Acted (with Timothy Howe QC) for the defendant in Binyam Mohamed v Jeppesen UK, a damages claim concerning the claimant’s alleged unlawful renditions.
  • Acted for/advised Ernst & Young in connection with a breach of contract claim in the Commercial Court.
  • Acted for/advised Natwest in connection with a breach of warranty claim.
  • Acted for a company providing logistical services in relation to a breach of contract claim.
  • Acted for an artist in connection with a claim made against her by her gallery/promoter.
  • Acted for a retail company in a claim concerning the breach of a share sale and purchase agreement.

Professional Negligence

  • Acted for the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (with David Railton QC and Richard Handyside QC) in Financial Services Compensation Scheme v Abbey National Treasury Services and NDF Ltd, a negligence/breach of statutory duty claim relating to the alleged mis-selling of structured capital at risk products to retail investors. Also acted for the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (with Richard Handyside QC) in Financial Services Compensation Scheme v GE Life, arising out of similar facts.
  • Acting (with Mark Simpson QC) for defendants in a professional negligence claim by a major bank against surveyors.
  • Acting (with Guy Philipps QC) for the claimant in a professional negligence claim against a major bank in connection with the mis-selling of structured products.
  • Acting for Natwest in a negligence claim arising out of the registration of defaults with credit agencies.
  • Acting for claimants in a professional negligence claim against solicitors and insurance brokers for negligent advice in relation to the suitability of life insurance policies.
  • Acted for a fund manager (with Timothy Howe QC and Patrick Goodall) in arbitration proceedings in connection with professional negligence claims by one of its clients arising out of the “credit crunch”.
  • Acted for Christie’s (with Jonathan Sumption QC and Andrew Onslow QC) in Thomson v Christie Manson & Woods Limited and others [2005] PNLR 38, concerning duties of care of auctioneers. Also acted for Christie’s (with Andrew Onslow QC) at first instance: [2004] PNLR 42.
  • Acted for defendants in a professional negligence claim against pension advisors.
  • Acted for the BMIF in connection with a professional negligence claim against a barrister.
  • Acted for executor claimants in a professional negligence/fraud claim against a firm of solicitors.
  • Acted for a construction company in a negligence claim concerning defective construction.
  • Acted for solicitors and claimants in various professional negligence claims against solicitors.

Insurance & Reinsurance

  • Acting for/advising Barclays in relation to various claims arising out of the sale of payment protection insurance.
  • Acting for a major bank in relation to a claim concerning contingent cover insurance.
  • Acting for claimants in a negligence claim against solicitors and insurance brokers relating to the suitability of life insurance policies.
  • Acted (with Timothy Howe QC) for reinsurers in Carvill America Incorporated and another v Camperdown UK Ltd and others [2005] 2 Lloyds Rep 457, concerning a claim brought by reinsurance brokers relating to the payment of brokerage fees.
  • Acted (with Mark Simpson QC) for a major insurer in arbitration proceedings in connection with a business interruption claim.
  • Acted for/advised insurers (with Bankim Thanki QC) in a policy coverage dispute relating to a professional indemnity policy. 

Conflict of laws & Private International Law

  • Acted (with Michael Crane QC) for the first defendant in Excalibur Ventures LLC v Texas Keystone and others [2011] EWHC 1624 (Comm) concerning an application by the claimant for a stay and a cross application for an anti-suit injunction.
  • Acted for reinsurers (with Timothy Howe QC) in Carvill America Incorporated and another v Camperdown UK Ltd and others [2005] 2 Lloyd Rep 457.
  • Acted (with Timothy Howe QC) for a foreign telecommunications company in connection with breach of contract claims brought by two major investment banks; including acting in connection with the defendant company’s jurisdiction challenge.
  • Acted (with Christopher Carr QC) for Dresdner in connection with an application to resist jurisdiction in the context of a dispute relating to a securitisation.
  • Acted for the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (with Timothy Howe QC) in connection with various jurisdiction applications.
  • Acted for Cricket Sri Lanka (with Timothy Howe QC) in connection with multi-jurisdictional litigation and arbitration concerning TV rights in respect of Sri Lanka international cricket matches; included resisting enforcement of an arbitration award in the UK.
  • Acted for a Belgian company in connection with an application to resist jurisdiction of the English Court.

Arbitration

  • Acted (with Michael Crane QC) for insurers of a major manufacturer in connection with a multi million dollar claim by an airline company arising out of a mid-air plane collision.
  • Acted for a fund manager (with Timothy Howe QC and Patrick Goodall) in arbitration proceedings in connection with claims arising out of the “credit crunch”.
  • Acted (with Mark Simpson QC) in arbitration proceedings for major insurer in connection with a claim under a business interruption policy.
  • Acted (with Timothy Howe QC) for Cricket Sri Lanka in connection with multi-jurisdictional litigation and arbitration concerning TV rights in respect of Sri Lanka international cricket matches.
  • Acted for a construction company in a negligence claim concerning defective construction.

Financial Services/Regulatory

  • Acting (with Guy Philipps QC) for the claimant in a professional negligence claim against a major bank in connection with the mis-selling of structured products.
  • Acted for the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (with David Railton QC and Richard Handyside QC) inFinancial Services Compensation Scheme v Abbey National Treasury Services and NDF Ltd, a negligence/breach of statutory duty claim relating to the alleged mis-selling of structured capital at risk products to retail investors.
  • Also acted for the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (with Richard Handyside QC) in Financial Services Compensation Scheme v GE Life, arising out of similar facts.
  • Acted and advised in connection with various claims involving financial services professionals and financial products.
  • Acting for/advising the SRA in connection with disciplinary proceedings against various solicitors.

Civil Fraud

  • Acted with Brian Doctor QC, Patrick Goodall, Paul Sinclair and Rosalind Phelps in Tajik Aluminium Plant v Ermatov and others, a multi million dollar claim involving allegations of fraud and conspiracy relating to the aluminium industry in Tajikistan.
  • Acted for executor claimants in a professional negligence/fraud claim against a firm of solicitors.

Reported Cases

Boris Berezovsky and others v Edmiston & Co Ltd and others [2010] 2 CLC 126

Thomson v Christie Manson & Woods Limited and others [2005] PNLR 38 (and at first instance: [2004] PNLR 42)

Carvill America Incorporated and another v Camperdown UK Ltd and others [2005] 2 Lloyds Rep 457

Publications

Co-author of The Law of Privilege (ed. Thanki) (Second edition, 2011, Oxford University Press)

Other Experience

Former solicitor at Allen & Overy: trainee and subsequently assistant in the Litigation Department (Banking and Finance Group) (1998-2001)
Judicial Assistant to Lord Woolf (Master of the Rolls and subsequently Lord Chief Justice) (2000)
Legal assistant at the Treasury Solicitor (Judicial Review division) (1997/1998)
Legal assistant in Italian law firm, Tonon e Associati, Rome (1997)

Languages

Italian (fluent)
Russian (fluent conversational)