Gary Oliver
Senior Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7325
Rayan has a broad and diverse practice encompassing all areas of Chambers' expertise, with a particular focus on public and human rights law, public international law, commercial law, EU and competition law, media and entertainment, and sanctions.
Since commencing practice, Rayan has been instructed as junior counsel representing Ed Sheeran in a high profile copyright dispute in relation to the song 'Shape of You', as counsel to the Financial Conduct Authority in market abuse proceedings before the Regulatory Decisions Committee and the High Court, and as counsel to a Part 20 Defendant in proceedings relating to an alleged cartel in the Competition Appeals Tribunal.
Rayan is also developing a strong public law and human rights practice, and is currently instructed by the claimants in a high profile challenge to the Government's policy of removing asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda. Other recent highlights include advising a human rights organisation on a sanctions-related matter concerning alleged war crimes, acting for the claimant in a judicial review of a decision of the Financial Ombudsman Service, and advising a public authority in relation to potential litigation concerning the right to peaceful enjoyment of property under Article 1 of the First Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights.
Prior to undertaking his pupillage with Blackstone Chambers, Rayan worked as a Research Associate with Legal Agenda in Beirut, where he worked on civil liberties and social justice issues arising from the mass demonstrations of October 2019 and ensuing political crisis in Lebanon. He has been a member of the Legal Agenda General Assembly since October 2020. Rayan has also been a union representative for the Cleaners and Allied Independent Workers Union (CAIWU).
Rayan commenced full-time practice on completion of his pupillage in September 2021.
Rayan accepts instructions in all areas of public and regulatory law.
Acting for the claimant in a judicial review of a decision of the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Acting for the claimants in a judicial review challenging the Secretary of State’s decisions to remove the individual claimants to Rwanda pursuant to her policy of removing asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda, as well as the lawfulness of the Rwanda removal policy itself.
Advising a public authority in relation to potential litigation concerning the right to peaceful enjoyment of possessions under Article 1, Protocol 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Advising in relation to several applications under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Programme following the collapse of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Advising a public authority in relation to a potential application for an urgent injunction in the High Court.
Advising on the operation of data protection and privacy law in the context of scientific research.
Rayan accepts instructions in all areas of commercial law.
Acting for the claimant in High Court litigation involving allegations of market abuse.
Successfully represented Ed Sheeran, Steve McCutcheon, Johnny McDaid and the publishers of the song "Shape of You". The High Court granted a declaration that the Claimants had not infringed any copyrights of the Defendants in writing and exploiting that song and dismissed the Defendants' counterclaim (with Ian Mill QC).
Acting for the Financial Conduct Authority in proceedings before the Regulatory Decisions Committee in relation to allegations of market abuse.
Obtained undertakings in lieu of an injunction from the defendant in High Court proceedings in relation to allegations of misuse of confidential information and harassment.
Rayan accepts instructions in all areas of civil liberties and human rights law.
Advising a human rights organisation in relation to potential litigation concerning persons allegedly implicated in torture and war crimes.
Acting for the claimants in a judicial review challenging the Secretary of State’s decisions to remove the individual claimants to Rwanda pursuant to her policy of removing asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda, as well as the lawfulness of the Rwanda removal policy itself.
Advising a public authority in relation to potential litigation concerning the right to peaceful enjoyment of possessions under Article 1, Protocol 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Advising in relation to several applications under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Programme following the collapse of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Successfully represented a claimant at pre-action stage in relation to a claim against a public authority for breach of the claimant's Article 10 rights to freedom of expression as well as discrimination on grounds of philosophical belief, resulting in the revocation of the decision.
Rayan accepts instructions in all areas of sanctions law.
Advising a human rights organisation in relation to potential litigation concerning persons allegedly implicated in torture and war crimes.
Advising a company on the implications for its business of recent financial sanctions in relation to Russia.
Advising on potential litigation in relation to the application of financial sanctions under UK and EU sanctions regimes.
Rayan accepts instructions in all areas of media and entertainment law.
Successfully represented Ed Sheeran, Steve McCutcheon, Johnny McDaid and the publishers of the song "Shape of You". The High Court granted a declaration that the Claimants had not infringed any copyrights of the Defendants in writing and exploiting that song and dismissed the Defendants' counterclaim (with Ian Mill QC).
Rayan accepts instructions in all areas of financial services law.
Acting for the claimant in High Court litigation involving allegations of market abuse.
Acting for the Financial Conduct Authority in proceedings before the Regulatory Decisions Committee in relation to allegations of market abuse.
Rayan accepts instructions in all areas of public international law.
Advising a human rights organisation in relation to potential litigation concerning persons allegedly implicated in torture and war crimes.
Rayan accepts instructions in all areas of civil fraud law.
Advising a claimant on issues of asset recovery and limitation in relation to a sophisticated high-value fraud
Obtained undertakings in lieu of an injunction from the defendant in High Court proceedings in relation to allegations of misuse of confidential information and harassment.
Rayan accepts instructions in all areas of EU law.
Successfully represented the defendant in a claim for compensation under Regulation (EC) 261/2004.
Rayan accepts instructions in all areas of employment law.
Awards
Separately from his work at the Bar, Rayan regularly writes for various publications (in both English and Arabic) on a range of social, legal, and cultural issues relating to the Middle East.
VAT registration number: 387653741
Barristers regulated by the Bar Standards Board
Gary Oliver
Senior Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7325
Derek Sutton
Deputy Senior Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7327
Adam Sloane
Deputy Senior Clerk
+44 (0) 207 8227326
Dean Tolman
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7331
Billy Brian
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7339
Marc Armstrong
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7330
Adam Fuschillo
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 8227329
Danny Compton
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7338
Sophie Floydd
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7324
Rio Sully
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7299