Today we welcome four new tenants to Fountain Court, following successful completion of their pupillages. Daniel Schwennicke, Francesca Ruddy, Hannah Bernstein and Joseph Leech have become members of chambers with effect from 1 October 2021. All four pupils this year have been successful in meeting the criteria for tenancy.

Please contact their clerks Adam Collins or Sam Ismail if you have an enquiry about Daniel, Francesca, Hannah or Joseph.

Daniel Schwennicke

Daniel obtained a First in Classics at Merton College, Oxford, and was awarded a Henry Fellowship at Yale University. He then completed an accelerated BA in Law at Jesus College, Oxford, taking a First and receiving the Elton Davies and Dickey Scholarships.

During pupillage, Daniel has worked on a wide range of commercial disputes. Particular highlights include a claim that a bank made fraudulent misrepresentations as to the credit quality of $100 million of residential mortgage-backed securities, a claim against an imprisoned solicitor in relation to an investment scam using offshore trusts and an arbitration concerning COVID-19-related business interruption insurance claims.

From October to December 2021 Daniel will be a full-time Judicial Assistant in the High Court (Commercial Division).

“I have enjoyed pupillage at Fountain Court and am particularly grateful to my pupil supervisors, who have been good-humoured and supportive. I am thrilled to be joining Chambers this October.”

Francesca Ruddy

Francesca graduated top of her year in both Law and French from the University of Glasgow and Summa Cum Laude from her year at Sciences Po, Paris. For the legal year 2019-2020, she served as the judicial assistant to the Deputy President of the UK Supreme Court and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. She joins Chambers following a career as a solicitor-advocate at Herbert Smith Freehills in London, where she acted in commercial disputes at all stages of litigation and arbitration.

During pupillage, Francesca worked on commercial disputes in the High Court and Court of Appeal, as well as international arbitrations and offshore proceedings. Particular highlights include her work on enforcement proceedings relating to a BVI freezing injunction, a major LIBOR manipulation claim and a complex CIArb arbitration involving parallel US Court proceedings.

“I have very much enjoyed getting to know everyone in Chambers and working on some fascinating cases during my pupillage. I am delighted to be starting as a tenant.”

Hannah Bernstein

Before coming to the Bar, Hannah was an economist at PwC. She has advised a range of public bodies and multinational corporations on commercial and competition disputes and operational challenges. Her experience includes advising a regulator on the estimated cost of capital and advising a UK corporate on allegations of collusive behaviour, providing counterfactual analysis to aid the client’s legal team in responding to the antitrust authority.

During pupillage, Hannah worked on a wide range of commercial, administrative, and professional discipline disputes. Particular highlights include strike-out proceedings on limitation grounds, proceedings in the Court of Appeal in relation to an application to re-grant a freezing injunction and assisting counsel for a city firm on an internal investigation relating to a potential breach of the Solicitors Accounts Rules.

“I have really enjoyed pupillage at Fountain Court. Members and staff have been hugely supportive, and I have learned a great deal. I am delighted to be joining chambers.”

Joseph Leech

Before coming to the Bar, Joseph studied history at Cambridge (where he took a Double Starred First and won a range of prizes and scholarships) and at Yale (where he was the Henry Fellow). He won the Lord Mansfield and Lord Bowen scholarships from Lincoln’s Inn for the law conversion, taking a Distinction in the GDL and an Outstanding in the BPTC.

During pupillage, Joseph worked on a full range of commercial, regulatory and public cases. Highlights include an appeal to the Supreme Court in a civil fraud case concerned with the interaction of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the law of constructive trusts, a complex application for disclosure from a bank for use in foreign extradition proceedings and a heavy insurance arbitration.

From October to December 2021 Joseph will be a full-time Judicial Assistant in the High Court (Chancery Division), where he will gain detailed experience of commercial trials and judicial decision-making.

“I’m very excited to be joining Fountain Court as a tenant after a fantastic pupillage here. It’s a real privilege to be able to do such high-quality work with such talented and supportive colleagues.”