Tom Bushnell in Law360 on Barclays CEO Jes Staley’s appeal against a FCA lifetime ban
3 Mar 2025
Hickman & Rose barrister Tom Bushnell has been quoted in the media commenting on former Barclays CEO Jes Staley’s appeal against his ban on working in a senior position within UK financial services.
The Financial Conduct Authority banned Mr Staley in 2023 after it found he “recklessly approved a letter” sent to the FCA which contained two allegedly “misleading” statements about the nature of his relationship with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Tom told Law360 that Mr Staley’s appeal, which is due to run for two weeks from today in the Upper Tribunal, is of paramount importance for the FCA.
“Failing to see off Mr. Staley’s challenge could be extremely damaging for the FCA,” Tom said, “[The agency] has endured a torrid time recently, not least following an all-party parliamentary group’s scathing review last November, which called it incompetent.”
Tom also explained that Mr Staley’s motivation in bringing the case is unlikely to be money. “[He] will, no doubt, have considered the reputational risks from more publicity about his links to Jeffrey Epstein“, Tom said.
