Exchange Chambers

Employment; Commercial

Simon practises mainly in employment and equality law, and in complementary areas within the fields of regulatory and professional discipline, public, commercial and sports law.  He has an outstanding employment practice for a barrister of his call.  He frequently acts for both respondents and claimants in complex, multi-day employment tribunals.  He has acted, as sole counsel, in appeal cases in the Employment Appeal Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, and in one case which touched the Supreme Court.

Simon was appointed Junior Counsel to the Crown in 2015 on the Attorney General’s regional civil panel for a period of five years and reappointed in 2020.  As such, in addition to his broader practice, he regularly advises and represents major government departments and ministers.  He also has substantial experience working with local authorities and with business more generally.

In addition to acting as an advocate, Simon has been appointed to a number of judicial roles.  He sits as a Deputy District Judge in the County Court.  He’s been appointed chair or member of various regulatory panels: a global accountancy body; the UK regulator of phone-paid services; the Football Association; England Boxing; and British Cycling.  He’s acted as an independent case examiner for the General Optical Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Simon also brings substantial wider experience from various non-executive positions and his earlier career.  He is currently a Non-Executive Director for Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust and for the West Riding County Football Association, and he is an independent board member and trustee of ASDA’s corporate charitable foundation.  After graduating with a 1st class degree from Cambridge, he spent a year in one of the Prime Minister’s units before working at a leading management consultancy and then in an executive role at a global professional services firm.

Clients regularly provide feedback that Simon is an excellent team player and great to work with.

Called 2012; Junior Counsel to the Crown (2015); Statutory Case Examiner at the General Optical Council (2016)

Northern Eastern Circuit Employment Lawyers Association (ELA)

BPP Law School, Leeds Bar Course: Outstanding (ranked 1st in year group) Law Conversion Course: Distinction (ranked 1st in year group)

Cambridge University, Jesus College BA Social and Political Sciences: 1st Class MA (Cantab)

Ermysted’s Grammar School, Skipton S levels, A levels, GCSEs: Grade A

Law Scholarships Lincoln's Inn: Eastham, Buchanan, Cassel, Lord Haldane, Hardwicke BPP Law School: Cohen

Simon played first class cricket for a couple of seasons as an opening batsman, including a tour of Pakistan, is a Cambridge Blue, and captained several of the Yorkshire youth cricket teams.  He played representative football, among other sports, and maintains an interest in the sporting world generally.

He grew up in Ilkley and in North Wales, and now lives in Yorkshire.