Business & Property Litigation

"A formidable opponent." "His approach to, knowledge of, and experience in complex matters is absolutely terrific." Chancery, Chambers & Partners 2020.

Simon is head of Chambers’ Business and Property team and is well established as one of the region’s leading commercial litigators. He regularly appears in the Chancery and Queen’s Bench divisions of the High Court, and in arbitrations, often with an international dimension.

Simon is one of only a handful of local practitioners to be recognised nationally by the professional directories as a leading barrister in Business and Property work, where his intellectual ability and willingness to fight his clients’ corner is regularly praised. He was a member of the Attorney General’s Regional Panel of Counsel between 2007 and 2018, which has given him the opportunity to advise and represent central government departments in cases of complexity and sensitivity.

Simon’s principle areas of practice include:

• Contractual disputes
• Commercial fraud
• Directors’ duties (including director’s disqualification proceedings)
• Shareholder disputes
• Contentious probate (including 1975 Act claims)
• Partnership
• Landlord & tenant (commercial and residential)
• Insolvency (corporate and personal)
• Professional negligence

Employment

"He has a perfect advocacy style that judges find attractive." Employment, Legal 500 2021.

Simon is usually instructed to advise and represent clients in employment disputes involving issues of significant factual or legal complexity and/or which are high value. Simon appears across the UK in the Employment Tribunal, the EAT and the High Court, often against Silks. He advises and represents employers and employees, and has over a number of years developed a particular expertise in employment litigation in the High Court. His principal practice areas include:

• Post termination restrictions
• Discrimination
• Equal pay
• Whistleblowing
• Trade Union rights
• Unfair dismissal
• Wrongful dismissal and breach of contract
• Post termination restrictions
• TUPE

APPOINTMENTS

Recorder Crime, Civil & Chancery (since 2018)
Attorney General’s Regional Panel of Counsel (2007 - 2018)
Chair of the Association of International Accountants Disciplinary Appeals Committee (since 2020)

MEMBERSHIPS

North Eastern Circuit Commercial Bar Association
Chancery Bar Association
Employment Law Bar Association
Employment Law Association
Bar Pro Bono Unit

LECTURES & SEMINARS

Regularly lectures to students, solicitors and other professionals on all aspects of Business and Property litigation and employment law.

EDUCATION & AWARDS

• BA in Jurisprudence: Trinity College, Oxford
• Queen Mother’s Scholar, Harmsworth Scholar and Exhibitioner, Middle Temple

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Lives in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne. Educated RGS Newcastle. Authorised to accept instructions under the Bar public access scheme.