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Generally recognised as one of the leading silks at the Commercial Bar, Pedro Silva has a wide ranging commercial litigation and arbitration practice, which includes expertise in banking and finance, company law, energy, civil fraud, competition and professional liability cases. He is recommended in both Chambers UK 2018 and The Legal 500 2017 as a leading silk in Banking & Finance, Commercial Dispute Resolution, Energy and Natural Resources, Civil Fraud, Insurance and Reinsurance and International Arbitration (General Commercial & Insurance).
Recent high-profile cases include Banco Santander Totta v Carris, the first Financial List trial, in which he acted for the successful claimant in both the Commercial Court and the Court of Appeal; The RBS Rights Issue litigation in which he acted for the institutional investors claiming over £1 billion in relation to the bank's emergency rights issue in 2008; in Sabbagh v. Khoury in the Court of Appeal where he successfully overturned the decision of Mrs Justice Carr to strike out substantial aspects of a major claim; for the successful claimants in Littlewoods Limited & Ors. v. HMRC, a claim for restitution in tax and compound interest from HMRC of more than £1.2 billion; and in Berezovsky v Abramovich, in which Pedro acted for Boris Berezovsky.
He is presently acting for Hewlett Packard in their £3.4 billion damages claim in relation to the acquisition of Autonomy, and he is also acting for a major international petroleum group in an arbitration claim for c. US£5.5billlion. "The consummate business trial lawyer, who is remarkable when examining witnesses, excellent in his oral and written submissions, and great at dealing with clients." "He has a wonderful way with people." Chambers UK 2018 - Commercial Dispute Resolution
"Pedro has an unassuming and down-to-earth style which belies his fierce intellect. He masters the detail of a case incredibly quickly and always adds significant value, both with his advice and as a tactician." "He is as impressive as his reputation suggests - an absolute superstar." Chambers UK 2018 - Banking and Finance
"He has an unassuming and down-to-earth style which belies his fierce intellect. He masters the detail of cases incredibly quickly and always adds significant value both with his advice and as a tactician. He is very good with clients, too." Chambers UK 2018 - Fraud: Civil
"He is confident but not arrogant, gives clear advice and is very client-friendly." "Very much a new-style QC, he's a team player who can pick out the key points from a raft of documents." Chambers UK 2018 - Energy & Natural Resources
"A top-class advocate. We come to him with complex problems. He is quiet, calm and gets straight to the answer." Chambers UK 2018 - International Arbitration: General Commercial and Insurance
A stellar barrister who is renowned for being one of the very best that the Bar in London has to offer. He takes the lead in many of the highest profile case. "He is very approachable, gives sound and practical advice ad commands a lot of respect among his peers." "He wears his phenomenal intellect lightly and has huge charm." Chambers UK 2017 - Commercial Dispute Resolution
Widely considered one of the pre-eminent silks of the London Bar with an outstanding reputation as a brilliant advocate capable of handling the most complex and intricate disputes with aplomb. "He is fantastic. He has a sort of intellectual courage, a willingness to confront difficulties in his own case." "He can cover in a day issues that would normally take a leader a month. Judges have deferred to him." Chambers UK 2017 - Banking and Finance
'He masters the detail of cases incredibly quickly and always adds significant value both with his advice and as a tactician. He is very good with clients too.' 'He has an incredibly incisive analytical mind, coupled with hugely reassuring client handling skills.' Chambers UK 2017 - Civil Fraud
'He has an outstanding ability to formulate a case in a way which will have maximum appeal.' 'First and foremost he is one of the nicest gentleman at the bar. He is incredibly good with a solicitor or a client, and very, very hard-working and clever.' Chambers UK 2017 - Energy and Natural Resources Widely considered by clients and peers as a 'legend of his generation.' 'Pedro is a completely stellar barrister. He has an outstanding ability to formulate a case in way which will have a maximum appeal to the tribunal.' Chambers UK 2017 - International Arbitration: Commercial & Insurance
Pedro is described as "Astonishingly articulate, elegant, thoughtful and utterly client-friendly. He has the authority and gravitas to deal with general counsel". "He has an unassuming and down-to-earth style which belies his fierce intellect. He masters the detail of cases incredibly quickly and always adds significant value both with his advice and as a tactician". Chambers UK 2016
He receives glowing reviews from peers and instructing parties alike, and is identified as client-friendly, "formidably bright" and a "go-to advocate for any bet-the-bank commercial litigation or arbitration." Chambers UK 2015
"A polymath, he handles everything from tax through to energy, and is able to distill complex legal concepts almost into words of one syllable." Chambers UK 2015 "He has the full package of intellectual prowess, commercial sense, and the ability to get on with clients and speak to them in a way that they like to be spoken to." Chambers UK 2015
"Pedro Silva has an outstanding reputation among the highest echelons of the legal community, and remains at the top of the list for magic circle instructions." Chambers UK 2014
"Has an incredibly incisive analytical mind, coupled with hugely reassuring client-handling skills." Chambers UK 2014
''Pedro Silva is considered one of the best silks of his generation, and his ‘unassuming and down-to-earth style belies his fierce intellect’. ‘One of the most eminent counsel at the Bar.’ Legal 500 2013. Pedro Silva is one of the Bar's most successful advocates and "a real heavyweight," who "can make a real difference to the outcome of a case." Possessed of abundant "raw ability" and praised for his "nuanced" advocacy, he provides "devastating cross-examination" and "inestimable intellectual firepower." Chambers & Partners 2013
Pedro Silva has "an unassuming and down-to-earth style which belies his fierce intellect", and ‘masters the detail of cases incredibly quickly’. Legal 500 2012. Pedro Silva is "about the best in the business." Legal 500 2012