Talk from the TSI conference in Bournemouth

Gough Square again took a Stand at TSI conference in Bournemouth in June - Iain MacDonald gave an update on Unfair Trading Regulations. View PowerPoint presentation.

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Members of Chambers

Ruth Bala

Called Lincoln's Inn (2006)
Lord Denning Scholarship, Lord Brougham Scholarship and Hardwicke Award
Classics (Greats) at Oriel College, Oxford University
Law conversion course (CPE) at City University
Masters in Law (LLM) at University College London
ruth.bala@goughsq.co.uk

Ruth practises in all areas of consumer and regulatory law.

Consumer Credit

Ruth regularly represents banks and other financial institutions in courts all over the country on a broad range of consumer credit matters, including enforceability disputes, alleged mis-selling of Payment Protection Insurance ("PPI"), payment of ‘secret commissions’ to brokers, provision of copy documents, compliance with drafting requirements, ‘extortionate credit bargains’ and the ‘unfair relationships’ test. Ruth also undertakes drafting and advisory work in these areas.

Notable Cases

Ruth successfully represented the lender in one of the leading High Court cases on alleged mis-selling of PPI: Harrison v Black Horse Ltd [2010] EWHC 3152 (QB) (although PPI being recommended was very expensive by comparison with monthly premium products, this did not give rise to a breach of ICOB or an unfair relationship; receipt of 87% commission from insurer did not give rise to a conflict of interest under ICOB).

Led by Nicholas Elliott QC in the Court of Appeal, where the lender successfully resisted the borrowers' second appeal: Harrison v Black Horse Ltd [2011] EWCA Civ 1128 (non-disclosure of 87% commission did not give rise to unfair relationship)

Regulatory Law

Ruth has experience in other regulatory matters, both civil and criminal. During her pupillage she worked as a Trading Law Specialist at Asda and advised on the legality of comparative advertising. She also completed an internship at the Office of Fair Trading, which involved advising on the application of the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999, the Enterprise Act 2002 and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. She has represented local authorities in a variety of regulatory trials, including prosecutions concerning animal welfare and unfair trading.

Other

Ruth regularly appears in court in mortgagee possession and appeal proceedings, sale and supply of goods disputes, contractual disputes, claims for debt and insolvency proceedings.

Publications

Contributor to 'Advertising Law and Regulation', ed G. Crown, 2nd edn, Bloomsbury Professional (2010)

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