The Business Banking Resolution Service has announced the appointment of Sally Berlin as Deputy Chief Adjudicator. Mrs Berlin will work alongside Chief Adjudicator, Alexandra Marks, and is the first person to hold the role of Deputy.

The independent BBRS went live in mid-February with a brief to resolve outstanding historical and contemporary complaints from larger SMEs about their banks.

Sally Berlin joins from the Criminal Cases Review Commission, where she was an Executive Board Member and the Director of Casework Operations. The CCRC is the independent public body set up to review possible miscarriages of justice and which decides whether potentially unsafe convictions should be referred to one of the UK’s courts of criminal appeal.

Following an early career in environmental health, Mrs Berlin joined the CCRC in 2000, after qualifying as a barrister. She has also been a member of a Cabinet Office appeal panel since 2017. The panel provides an independent avenue of appeal for civil service staff and contractors who wish to contest the refusal or withdrawal of security clearance.

Commenting on Sally Berlin’s appointment, Alexandra Marks said:

“Sally Berlin’s sustained track record at the Criminal Cases Review Commission demonstrates a rigour and intellectual discipline that will be a tremendous asset to us here at the BBRS.

“Working with absolute integrity and independence are essential features of the Commission and will be equally important at the BBRS. I am delighted that she is joining us so soon after our launch, thus enabling us to accelerate the pace of engagement with those who want to use our service.”

Sally Berlin said of her joining the BBRS:

“While I will be sad to leave the CCRC after such an interesting and rewarding career there, the challenge of joining a newly launched, independent dispute resolution entity like the BBRS is one which I truly relish.

“Like many others, I have great confidence in Alexandra Marks, and it will be a privilege to work alongside her in seeking to bring resolution to both historical and contemporary bank complaints.

“I believe that my professional qualification as a barrister, together with my track record in dealing with some of the most difficult and sensitive criminal cases, have equipped me with the necessary skills and experience to address the challenges that cases before the BBRS will present. I can’t wait to get started.”

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Notes to Editors 

Media contacts

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Press Office: +44 207 554 1776 | BBRS@portland-communications.com

About the BBRS

The BBRS is a dispute resolution service set up to resolve disputes between eligible small and medium sized businesses and participating banks. The BBRS has been established in accordance with a voluntary commitment in response to the Simon Walker Review on the small business complaints landscape.

An Implementation Steering Group was established in January 2019, and it drove and oversaw the development of the service in line with the banking and finance industry’s commitment and agreed terms of reference. The seven participating banks are: Barclays, Danske Bank, HSBC UK, Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest Group, Santander UK, and Virgin Money. Alongside the participating banks, the Implementation Steering Group comprised many representative groups acting on behalf of small and medium sized businesses.

For more information visit the BBRS website https://thebbrs.org/.