“Simon Gurney boasts expertise in defending clients facing significant fraud prosecutions”- Legal 500, 2025
“Simon is exceptionally bright and a joy to work with, as his preparation is second-to-none and he is a go-to counsel for serious complex financial and business fraud cases. His written work is excellent and his advocacy exceptional; a true star and future silk”- Legal 500, 2025
“Simon Gurney has substantial expertise in handling cases regarding historic sexual abuse, as well as large drugs conspiracies”- Legal 500, 2025
“Simon's technical abilities are unmatched, as he is able to quickly identify the prevalent issues in a case and provide sound and considered advice on how to approach them. Simon is particularly skilled when it comes to matters involving procedural irregularities and potential public law issues, and he approaches these matters with tenacity, but has an excellent ability to be able to set these out clearly and succinctly to his lay clients”- Legal 500, 2025
"Simon is one of the best barristers around and a joy to work with. He is highly sought-after due to his immense intellect and amazing client care skills, he is a real stand-out performer, and he is extremely hard working with excellent written work." Tier 1 Business and Regulatory Crime (Inc H&S) – Legal 500 (2024)
"Simon is an extremely impressive barrister who has a rapidly expanding reputation in regulatory work. He is the busiest junior on the circuit, he is a first-class barrister, a quick thinker, and a persuasive advocate." Crime (General and Fraud) – Legal 500 (2024)
Ranked in Band 1 - Professional Disciplinary Law – Legal 500 (2024)
"Simon is without doubt the most able Criminal junior on the Northern Circuit. A first-class choice for heavyweight fraud cases. A peerless lawyer who finds the defences everyone else has missed. Tenacious in fighting for his clients, he puts a huge amount of work into case preparation." Legal 500 (2023)
"Simon is an outstanding barrister, exceptionally bright and fantastic, both on paper and in front of a jury. He is a master tactician, a very calm and persuasive advocate and puts clients at ease without difficulty, and an extremely professional barrister." Legal 500 (2023)
"Simon instantly builds brilliant rapport with lay clients… His advice is absolutely instrumental in directing the strategy of the client’s approach. He advises confidently and makes himself available to answer follow-up queries. It is a pleasure to work with him." Legal 500 (2023)"
"Intellectually formidable and well-organised… a hugely impressive advocate, whether he is arguing a complex issue of law before the Court of Appeal or arguing a case before a jury." Legal 500 (2021/22)
Overview
Simon has built a formidable reputation for his intellectual ability, diligence, tactical acumen and meticulous preparation. He brings sound judgment and tenacity to every case and is focused on ensuring the best possible result for his clients.
Simon prides himself on offering a first-rate service, being accessible and maintaining a close working relationship with those who instruct him. His client care skills are widely praised. He provides clear and straight-forward advice on even the most complex matters.
Simon is consistently recognised as a leading Junior in both the leading legal directories, the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. He is acknowledged for his expertise in three categories: crime; professional discipline; and financial and regulatory crime (including health and safety law).
He specialises in serious criminal litigation, in particular homicide, organised crime, financial and regulatory crime and sexual offending. He is instructed in cases of the utmost gravity, sensitivity and complexity. He is renowned as a talented jury advocate.
Simon is often instructed pre-charge in substantial cases to advise upon challenges to search warrants by way of application for judicial review; applications to discharge restraint orders and resisting applications for forfeiture of assets.
He has substantial expertise in defending professionals accused of misconduct in professional disciplinary proceedings brought by their regulator, both at first instance and on appeal.
Those areas of expertise complement one another, enabling him to offer a comprehensive service to professional clients seeking advice and representation.
Simon’s expertise in defending allegations of fraud and other financial crime is sought by individuals and companies the subject of commercial fraud litigation pursued by HMRC / NCA in the tax tribunal or the civil courts.
Simon also has experience of conducting judicial review proceedings arising from across his practice areas.
Notable cases in which Simon is currently instructed include:
PM & Sintra Global Inc v HMRC – instructed with Alistair Webster KC (by Freeths Solicitors) to represent individual and corporate appellants for whom they successfully challenged HMRC’s claim to over £30m of VAT and excise duty, alleged to be owed because of a vast alcohol inward diversion fraud. Appeal proceedings ongoing.
Operation Barbados – instructed by Forbes Solicitors to represent one of 25 defendants accused of conspiring to cheat the public revenue of VAT in the sum of £20million. Listed for trial at Southwark in January 2025, the case focuses on the creation of fictitious input tax reclaims used fraudulently to off-set the output tax received on genuine transactions.
Operation Venetic cases – instructed in a series of cases in courts across the country arising from the recent high profile hacking of the Encrochat server by the French authorities, most notably instructed by Middleweeks in Operation Embossed – the lead case to determine the admissibility of the evidence, likely to be listed for trial in Autumn 2023.
Local Government corruption allegations – instructed to advise and represent two senior local government politicians, either under investigation or awaiting trial in relation to allegations of corruption and misconduct in a public office, with Peter Wright KC and Simon Csoka KC.
Op Somnus – instructed with John Harrison KC by the CPS Special Crime Division to prosecute two paramedics accused of gross negligence manslaughter arising from the death of a patient whilst under their care. Listed for trial at Worcester Crown Court in June 2023.
Operation Bryson – instructed by Stephensons Solicitors to represent a solicitor accused by Trading Standards of fraudulent trading in relation to the sale of estate planning instruments (generating in excess of £5m) which were falsely claimed to evade liability for care home fees. Listed for trial in Leeds in September 2023.
Operation Auckland – instructed with Tim Storrie KC by CPS Manchester to prosecute the alleged murder of a three week old baby, involving complex expert evidence concerning non-accidental head injuries.
In the Legal Directories, Simon is described as follows:
Previous editions have included the following descriptions:
“Simon is a quality barrister with a huge intellect. Very good on his feet, great knowledge of the law.” (Legal 500, 2021)
“An outstanding lawyer and formidable advocate.” (Legal 500, 2020)
“extremely bright and a master of strategy… a sagacious tactician” (Legal 500, 2019)
“intelligent, persuasive and diligent” (Legal 500, 2018)
“he shows excellent analysis of the evidence, and delivers relevant, well-presented closing speeches” (Legal 500, 2017)
"he is confident on his feet and a strong cross-examiner” (Legal 500, 2016)
“his grasp of the detail is outstanding” (Legal 500, 2015).
Qualified 2006 (called by the Inner Temple).
Member of the Inner Temple Circuits Bar Liaison Committee. CPS Level 3 Prosecutor and member of the specialist Proceeds of Crime Panel. Member of Liberty; Amnesty; Criminal Bar Association; Administrative Law Bar Association; and Northern Circuit.
Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe; University of Manchester (BA Hons law and politics (first class)); Manchester Metropolitan University (BVC; 2006 Richard Isaacson QC Inaugural Scholar); College of Law Pro Bono Prize 2006; Manchester Law Society Prize 2006.
Music, literature, watching and playing sport, particularly football, cricket and squash and following Arsenal FC.