Business Crime and Financial RegulationCriminal Law
Recognised in Chambers & Partners Guide to the Bar 2019 as "at the top of his game and a silk that no other barrister wants to face in court."
Simon specialises in all aspects of criminal law, in particular homicide, serious fraud and organised crime. He has defended many high profile cases such as Dale Cregan, Arran
Coghlan, and Operation Elveden (the News International cases. He has been widely praised for his devastating cross-examinations.
He exclusively defends in serious and complex crime. His practice encompasses murder, gross negligence manslaughter, evasion of duty, MTIC and serious fraud, terrorism, complex multi-handed drugs cases and corruption.
He has appeared in many high profile cases. He defended John Hardy, a former sergeant major, in Operation Elveden who was accused of selling stories about Prince William and
Prince Harry to The Sun. He was the only source to be acquitted by a jury in those News International trials. As well as his skills as a jury advocate, he is well known for his ability
to develop complex legal arguments. He is known for his mastery of detail even in cases with voluminous quantities of evidence. He has an advanced knowledge of computing
which can assist with the management of large amounts of evidence.
He led for the defence in the first case in which an application for independent special counsel for disclosure was granted [R v Greaves]. Since then he has made several
successful applications for special counsel which led to the cases collapsing.
He has defended a number of solicitors and professionals in recent years who have found themselves charged with criminal offences.
He has advised CEOs, such as Julian Wheatland, former Chief Executive of Cambridge Analytica.
He will provide an extremely comprehensive and involved service together with a robust defence to those charged with more minor offences who wish to pay privately.
He also appears in Sport Regulatory work and has appeared before the FA Appeal Committee and the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. In 2012 he succeeded in
restoring Bradford City FC to the FA cup after they were disqualified.
“Simon has a brain the size of a planet. His ability to be able to retain huge amounts of information, then present the most complex and cogent legal submissions in regards to this information, is such that you have never seen before; he is a once in a generation barrister” - Legal 500, 2025
"The defence of the client is his only concern. He is not concerned about upsetting judges with difficult and sensitive applications or cross-examination. He quite literally is the man for all seasons" Ranked: tier 1 - Legal 500, 2022
"Hyper-intelligent with a huge knowledge of the law and an expert on issues of disclosure and legal privilege." - Legal 500, 2021
“He uses his encyclopedic knowledge of the law with devastating effectiveness in defence of his clients.” – Legal 500, 2019
“A silk who oozes class.” – Legal 500, 2018
“A leader in his field with a national reputation; he is a formidable opponent.” – Legal 500, 2016
Legal 500 2015 Band 1: “Devastating in cross-examination.”
Legal 500 2016, Band 1: “An exceptional advocate in the most complex of cases.”
Called 1991; tenant Lincoln House Chambers 2010 to date.
Criminal Bar Association
Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University (MA Law) Inns of Court School of Law