Dean Armstrong QC

Call: 1985
Silk: 2014

darmstrong@36commercial.co.uk

Contact Clerks:

Telephone: 020 7421 8051

Email: clerks@36commercial.co.uk

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Key Contact:

Steven Newbery

Telephone: 0207 421 8040

Email: steven@36commercial.co.uk

Joint Head of Chambers

Barrister

Rights OF Audience – Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)

If you are seeking legal cyber security guidance from a top-rated and internationally renowned expert in this highly specialist field, whether it be for blockchain or cryptocurrency or data breach or indeed any other cyber law matter, Dean Armstrong QC should be your first choice counsel.

Areas of Experience:

Business Law
Commercial Litigation
Consumer
Cybercrime
Regulatory
Cyber
Civil Fraud
Asset Recovery
Company and Partnership
Technology
International
International Commercial Litigation
Data Protection

Practice Profile

Dean Armstrong QC is a highly experienced practitioner specialising in Commercial Litigation; Cyber, Data & Technology law; Fraud Regulation and Investigations.

Dean is currently instructed in four high profile worldwide class action cases, was an advisor to those involved in the ‘Cash for Honours’ inquiry and the Leveson inquiry, and was counsel in cases arising from the collapse of the News of the World newspaper. In addition, he is currently instructed in a number of multi million pound commercial disputes.

Dean has a City background, having been employed by blue chip corporates and major City Solicitors and has advised on mergers and acquisitions, directors and shareholders rights and obligations, and set up the regulatory regime for a major multi-national. Dean has extensive commercial experience having served on the board of several companies and the combination of expertise in law and experience in business is a powerful combination when analysing and advising on corporate issues. He is joint head of chambers at the 36 Group.

Dean is considered a leading authority in the UK on Cyber law, with a growing reputation in all areas of the subject. He is co-author of Cyber Security Law and Practice, an authoritative and thorough textbook in the fast-developing world of technology. This popular work has recently been updated and expanded upon in a second edition. He is also co-author of the first legal textbook written by counsel on Blockchain and Cryptocurrency: The International Legal and Regulatory Challenges, which has been well received across the world. Last year saw the publication of Cyber Litigation: The Legal Principles, and Cyber Risk and Insurance is on the point of being published. He has also contributed chapters to other publications.

Dean has previously assisted the Law Commission on draft legislation and has recently drafted worldwide travel rules on the treatment of virtual assets.

Dean advises international banks, large financial institutions, blue chip companies and major players in the not for profit sector. He is an expert in areas such as GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), the impact of Brexit on data regulation, and how international firms should manage data across the world including the increasingly complex area of international data transfer rules.

"An accomplished silk who has real-world commercial experience garnered in the City of London. Sources applaud him for his superior client service, mastery of the facts in a case, and effective advocacy. He is experienced in cases with significant international elements.
Very able, incredibly well prepared and someone with an encyclopaedic knowledge of any case he's instructed in; he's a very effective advocate and very good with clients. – Chambers & Partners 2019

"Canny, commercial, tactical and smart." – Chambers & Partners 2020

"Dean Armstrong is fast reaching the point where there will be no one above him at all" – Managing Partner

Testimonials

"Strengths: "Canny, commercial, tactical and smart." "He has very sound judgement.""

Chambers & Partners 2020

"He showed really good judgement as to which points to take and which not to take, and excellent skills in front of the judge and jury."

Chambers & Partners 2020

"A tactically astute and personable silk."

Legal 500 2020

"An accomplished silk who has real-world commercial experience garnered in the City of London. Sources applaud him for his superior client service, mastery of the facts in a case, and effective advocacy. His recent work includes defending allegations of tax fraud and money laundering. He is experienced in cases with significant international elements.
Very able, incredibly well prepared and someone with an encyclopaedic knowledge of any case he's instructed in; he's a very effective advocate and very good with clients.
His style in front of a jury is very appealing.
Recent work: Acted for a defendant in a large private prosecution involving an alleged fraud on DAS, a German insurance company."

Chambers & Partners – 2019

"100% a battler"

Legal 500, 2018

"A very effective cross-examiner with sound tactical and strategic judgement"

Legal 500, 2018

"A master tactician who can identify key issues quickly"

Client

"Dean Armstrong is fast reaching the point where there will be no one above him at all"

Client

"He is fantastic; very knowledgeable on the law and very, very good on the detail. He is also really down-to-earth with clients"

Client

"Solicitors identify him as an impressive presence in court"

Cient

"He’s a practical man who sees the wider picture"

Client

"[He is] an accomplished silk who has real-world commercial experience garnered in the City of London. Sources applaud him for his superior client service, mastery of the facts in a case, and effective advocacy"

Chambers & Partners 2017

"He worked very well in conference, had prepared extremely well, and dealt very competently with a number of legal arguments. His advocacy skills are sublime and he is a class act."

Chambers & Partners 2017

"A class act with devastatingly effective powers of cross-examination"

Legal 500 2015

Cyber

Dean is a leading authority in the UK on cyber law, with a growing reputation in all areas of the subject. He has advised international banks, large financial institutions, blue chip companies, and major institutions in the not-for-profit sector.

He is co-author of Cyber Security Law and Practice (Lexis Nexis: 2017), an authoritative and thorough textbook. He is also co-author of the first legal textbook written by counsel on distributed ledgers and cryptocurrencies: Blockchain and Cryptocurrency: International Legal and Regulatory Challenges (Bloomsbury Professional: 2019) which has been well received globally. Dean has recently co-authored two books on cyber litigation and cyber risks and insurance: Cyber Litigation: The Legal Principles (Bloomsbury Professional: 2020) and Cyber Risks and Insurance: The Legal Principles (Bloomsbury Professional: 2021).

He is an expert on blockchain, smart contracts, ICO, data breach, sensitive personal data, GDPR, international data protection legislation and facial recognition. Dean is consulted by clients on the impact of Brexit on data regulation and how international firms should manage data across the world – including the increasingly complex area of international data transfer rules.

Current and Recent Assignments

Advising a technology company with a globally patented algorithm particularly suited to resolving smart contract disputes on the blockchain. The company is planning to float on the full market either later this year or early next and Dean provides continued advice on all cyber, commercial and contractual matters. The company has widespread international connections and Dean liaises with governments, major international organisations, financial institutions and blue-chip companies on its behalf.
Advising on a major new initiative involving professional athletes regarding the abuse of performance and tracking data. The prospective defendants are major international corporations and Dean is leading the action which will involve the establishment of a new data asset class.
Advising on the establishment of various international cryptocurrency placements, this has involved consideration of the UK regulatory regime in relation to cryptocurrency and the division of functions across different jurisdictions.
Successful representation of a health care employee who was being investigated for breach of data protection legislation involving the alleged disclosure of sensitive personal data in patient records. As a result of the approach, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) did not pursue the allegation.
Advising on a facial recognition scheme involving the notification of individuals suspected of wrongdoing by retail outlets. Notwithstanding the adverse judgements affecting other facial recognition schemes, the client continues to run its scheme successfully, having been granted approval from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), following Dean’s advice.
Advising the promoters of an Initial Coin Offering (ICO) who had raised millions of dollars but without having the necessary regulatory approvals. Dean took the client through the next steps, assisting them with remedial action and helping them to work with the authorities to seek proper regulation.
Advising a business official who was subject of a breach of GDPR by HMRC on the best course of action.

Fraud, Regulation and Investigations

Dean has been at the forefront of some of the most significant cases in this arena over the past 20 years and has been instructed in some of the most complex and high profile cases.

Work undertaken:

Fraud
Freezing injunctions and ancillary relief
Committal applications for contempt of court
Breach of trust
Breach of fiduciary duty
Conspiracy
Corruption in commercial contracts
Misappropriation of company assets
Investment schemes
Directors disqualification hearings
FCA hearings and investigations

Commercial Dispute Resolution

Dean is a highly experienced commercial advocate, he has a city background, having been employed by blue chip corporates and major City Solicitors and has advised on mergers and acquisitions, directors and shareholders rights and obligations, and set up the regulatory regime for a major multinational.

Work undertaken: