Vishnu accepts instructions across all of Chambers’ main practice areas, with a particular focus on commercial litigation, arbitration, and group actions.
He is frequently instructed in a variety of matters in different courts and is also comfortable working across large legal and counsel teams. He is currently instructed in respect of the Lampard Inquiry, and on behalf of a Core Participant to the Covid-19 Inquiry.
During pupillage Vishnu assisted members of chambers by helping to draft advices, pleadings, and producing research notes, in matters including the Post Office Inquiry, the Next Equal Pay Litigation, and several other commercial and civil fraud claims.
Vishnu graduated with an MA in Classics from Queens’ College, University of Cambridge. He then read the GDL at City University, and the BTC at BPP.
Prior to joining Chambers, Vishnu was a Harold Fox scholar of Middle Temple, for which he spent 10 months working at Stockwoods Barristers LLP, in Toronto, Canada. He worked closely with the commercial partners on cases of fraud, insurance, and company law. He also co-authored a paper on defamation law, which was delivered at the Law Society of Ontario Symposium.
Vishnu then undertook a 6-month placement at a leading litigation firm, where he worked on multiple group actions, developing his expertise in this core practice area of Chambers.
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Expertise
Commercial
Vishnu accepts instructions in all commercial matters. Recent highlights include:
- Instructions to act in a commercial dispute concerning the supply of allegedly faulty software
- Instructions in a claim concerning enforcement of a foreign judgment in domestic courts
- Instructions to act in a complex claim alleging (inter alia) fraud against a company
- Multiple instructions in claims for specific performance and/or injunctive relief. Vishnu is the current contributing editor for Atkin’s Court Forms & Precedents on Specific Performance
- Assisting with the permission to appeal application in one of The Lawyer’s Top 10 Appeals of 2025
- Assisting (as a pupil) with an action under the Companies Act 2006 and Insolvency Act 1986 for alleged fraudulent trading between connected companies (one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2024)
- Advice (as a pupil) on various commercial issues with proposed actions arising out of a regulatory offence
- Advice (as a pupil) on a claim involving potential breaches of the Quincecare Duty
- Advice (as a pupil) on the merits of a multi-million pound breach of guarantee/indemnity and drafting the particulars of claim
Group Actions & Product Liability
Vishnu has significant experience in group action litigation. Prior to joining Chambers, he worked at a leading litigation firm, specialising in group actions. He was recently instructed to act in respect of an Equal Pay group litigation claim.
He is comfortable acting in claims involving technical or expert matters. Recently he assisted with:
- An Advice in a claim arising out of an explosion at a premises caused by an allegedly faulty use and/or installation of specialist equipment
- A claim involving an application of the Construction Products Regulations ((EU) No 305/2011)
- A claim involving the international supply of allegedly faulty safety devices, which also raised complex jurisdictional issues
Furthermore, as a pupil, Vishnu also gained experience in various group actions including:
- The DPF claim
- A proposed environmental-waste nuisance group claim
- The NEXT Equal Pay Litigation
Arbitration
Vishnu has a broad range of experience in arbitration. He has assisted with multiple commercial arbitration matters under various rules, and issues arising from the Arbitration Act 1996. Recent highlights include:
- Confidential ICC Arbitration: Assisted (during pupillage) in a dispute between a foreign, government-owned, oil company and its pipeline supplier for unjust enrichment, breach of contract and breach of trust
- Confidential Advice on LCIA Rules: Assisted (during pupillage) with an Advice on the interpretation and application of LCIA rules in a multi-jurisdictional commercial dispute
- Assisted (during pupillage) with an Appeal to the Court of Appeal concerning a challenge to a BIT Arbitration Award made against the Czech Republic in the sum of c.£560m
Public & Regulatory
Vishnu has considerable experience in a range of public and regulatory matters, such as public inquiries and inquests, including:
- Instructions to act on behalf of a Core Participant to the Covid-19 Inquiry
- Instructions to act on behalf of a company on matters concerning their statutory duties and powers under the Water Industry Act 1991.
- Instructions to act in respect of the Lampard Inquiry (concerning deaths resulting from mental health care in Essex)
- Instructions to act on behalf of the family in the Inquest Touching Upon the Death of Tamara Davis. This included drafting Article 2 submissions; ultimately a Report for Preventing Future Deaths was obtained through his submissions. The Inquest was widely publicised (see https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz9p7g934llo).
- Advice (as a pupil) on issues arising from a Rule 9 disclosure request from the Post Office Inquiry
- Drafting a defence (as a pupil) for a claim arising out of the Fatal Accidents Act 1976
Banking, Finance & Consumer
Vishnu is frequently instructed by major UK lenders, Fin-Tech companies, and other businesses, to appear in a variety of claims under the Consumer Credit Act 1974, the Consumer Rights Act 2015, and other related claims. He has experience in a wide range of banking, finance, and consumer matters including:
- Motor finance, solar panel, and PPI claims, and mortgage-related proceedings.
- Advice (as a pupil) on the merits of an appeal to the Court of Appeal arising out of the construction of provisions of the CRA 2015, and drafting the grounds of appeal and skeleton argument
Additionally, he is frequently published on banking and finance topics in the Journal of International Banking and Finance Law.
Company, Insolvency & Bankruptcy
Vishnu is developing a practice in the field of company, insolvency, and bankruptcy. He recently assisted with seeking permission to appeal from the Court of Appeal, regarding an aspect of unlawful means conspiracy in this area. He has experience in appearing unled in bankruptcy hearings.
During pupillage he assisted with several claims concerning the Companies Act 2006 and the Insolvency Act 1986.
Insurance
Vishnu is developing a practice in this area, having gained a great deal of experience during pupillage. Most recently he assisted with subrogated recovery claim, which involved issues of jurisdiction, coverage, third-party rights in contract, foreign law issues, and the application of the Third Party (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010.
Employment
Vishnu welcomes instructions on employment matters. Recent highlights include his instructions in respect of an Equal Pay group litigation claim, and assistance in a claim involving the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981. He has also been instructed in and is familiar dealing with claims involving allegations of direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, victimisation, and (sexual) harassment.
News and articles
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ALERTER Conspiracy theories: unlawful means...
ALERTER Beyond PACCAR? Publication of the Civil...
ALERTER Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers...
ALERTER Johnson & Ors in the Supreme Court: a...
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Instructing Vishnu Patel
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Call +44 (0)20 7583 9020
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Government Legal Department, Junior Junior scheme (2024 to 16/09/2028)
- Warwick, H., and Patel, V., “Conspiracy theories: unlawful means conspiracy and the problem of private rights” Butterworths Journal of International Banking and Finance Law (2025) 7 JIBFL 452
- Evans, T., and Patel, V., “Amendments to the Payment Services Regulations to Combat Authorised Push Payment Fraud”, Butterworths Journal of International Banking and Finance Law (2024) 7 JIBFL 460
(Banking and financial services)
- COMBAR
Education
- BTC, BPP University
- GDL, City University
- M.A. (Hons), Classics, University of Cambridge (Queens’ College)
Scholarships
- Harold G. Fox Scholarship (Middle Temple)
- Lord Denning Scholarship (Lincoln’s Inn)
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For more information about the way barristers at Henderson Chambers work, including our fee transparency statement and our complaints process, please click here.
Bar Council Number: 74414
VAT Registration Number: 475384164
Legal Status: Barrister
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Regulated by the Bar Standards Board.
