Practice Overview

Harriet’s banking and finance practice encompasses both regulated and unregulated lending disputes and advisory work. She usually acts for banks and lenders, receiving regular instructions from major lenders and retail banks.

Harriet has extensive experience of acting for lenders seeking to enforce guarantees and mortgages. Her work has included:

• a multi-day trial as to the authenticity of guarantee documents;
• advising on the enforceability of guarantees;
• a variety of mortgage possession claims, including claims in which undue influence is asserted; and
• a variety of strike out and / or summary judgment applications.

Harriet has experience of advising and acting for lenders in circumstances where borrowers allege that they have been the victim of identity fraud. Her recent work includes securing judgment for a lender at trial and drafting robust statements of case in response to such claims.

Harriet regularly acts for and advises asset finance companies. Recent work includes:

• Advising upon and advancing urgent applications for injunctions and other interim relief. This has included advancing applications for urgent interim relief to protect goods which are at risk of dissipation, loss, or damage pending determination of disputes as to ownership; and
• Securing judgment for a vehicle stock funder in respect of vehicles sold out of trust and in breach of facility agreements and being instructed to act for the funder at a rolled-up hearing of the Defendant’s application for permission to appeal that judgment.

Harriet is frequently instructed by regulated entities and in relation to regulated lending. Her work in this area includes:

• advising as to whether lending is regulated and the enforceability of facility agreements;
• appearing on behalf of lenders at all stages of litigation in relation to misrepresentation and / or breach of contract claims brought pursuant to s.75 of the CCA 1974;
• disputes arising from mis-selling and unfair terms (including secret commission disputes). A recent example of Harriet’s work includes acting for a lender in a successful application to set aside default judgment entered in favour of the Claimants in omnibus proceedings;
• credit reference issues; and
• general common law disputes raised by customers.

Harriet is an experienced trial advocate, with Chambers and Partners recognising the strength of her advocacy. Harriet is also noted as being ‘thoughtful in her advice’, recognising ‘the importance to clients of balancing fair customer outcomes with good practical outcomes’ (Legal 500, 2025).