Simon is an experienced and versatile lawyer specialising in commercial dispute resolution. He advises clients on disputes arising out of the internal management of their businesses and from their interactions with third parties such as customers, suppliers and regulators. His experience spans a broad range of industry sectors including financial services, technology, telecommunications, energy, media, entertainment, sport, aviation, pharmaceuticals and life sciences, construction and professional services. Much of his work has an international element.
Simon is often involved at the early stages of disputes. He focuses on resolving issues constructively, creatively and cost-effectively. Where litigation or other formal means of dispute resolution cannot be avoided, he is tenacious in pursuing his clients’ objectives.
Simon has a particular interest in the internal dynamics of business ownership and management, and in resolving issues that commonly arise in this context. He has substantial experience of resolving disputes involving shareholders, directors, partners, employees and investors.
Simon has sat as a Deputy District Judge in London and has written for The Times and various legal journals.
Expertise
- Commercial disputes, whether routine or business-critical
- Shareholder, director, partnership and employment disputes
- Disputes arising out of investments, acquisitions/disposals and other corporate transactions
- Commercial fraud
- Professional negligence
Experience
Business Ownership and Management Disputes
- Acted for a founder shareholder and director of a disruptive technology company in unfair prejudice proceedings against his US private equity investors.
- Acted for the founders of a niche professional services advisory practice in an earn-out dispute following the acquisition of their practice by a multinational competitor.
- Acted for private equity investors in disputes with portfolio companies over corporate strategy, financing and exits.
- Acted for a facilities management company in a dispute with an outgoing director over his contribution to the business.
- Acted for a software company in a claim against a director relating to diversion of business opportunities.
- Acted for a group of shareholders in a technology company in relation to a deadlock situation with fellow shareholders over the direction of the business.
- Acted for a senior lawyer in relation to her exit as a partner in a leading law firm.
- Defended the directors of an insolvent professional services company against wrongful and fraudulent trading claims made by the company’s liquidator.
Employment Disputes
- Acted for the leader of a team of brokers engaged in high-profile litigation arising out of a team move [BGC Brokers LP v Tradition (UK) Ltd].
- Acted for a senior executive in a multimillion-pound claim against his former employers relating to unpaid bonuses.
- Acted for an insurance broker in claims against a former employee relating to breaches of his restrictive covenants and misuse of confidential customer data.
- Acted for a recruitment professional in defending claims that he had breached his restrictive covenants and misappropriated his former employer’s CRM database.
- Acted for a pharmaceutical testing company in claims against a former employee relating to the misappropriation of business-critical information.
- Acted for employees of a leading insurer in bonus disputes.
Disputes Arising out of Investments and Corporate Transactions
- Advised a leading European real estate investment and asset management group on a dispute arising out of its investments in German shopping centres.
- Advised the board of a Premier League football club in connection with an investment by Russian investors.
- Advised a developer of casinos on a dispute relating to funding of a floating casino project in Florida.
- Advised numerous private-equity investors on disputes with portfolio companies.
- Advised a healthcare group on an earn-out dispute with the founder shareholder of an acquired company.
- Acted for the vendors of a technology company in defending multimillion-pound warranty claims made by the purchaser.
Commercial Fraud
- Acted for a Middle-Eastern state in connection with a $120m fraud.
- Acted for a firm of brokers on disputes and proceedings arising out of the Langbar fraud, the largest fraud on the Alternative Investment Market.
- Acted for a Swiss banker implicated in complex, multi-jurisdictional fraud proceedings involving members of a Middle-Eastern royal family.
- Acted on a dispute between family members over the fraudulent appropriation of a central London property portfolio.
- Acted for a group of investors in a fraudulent gold-trading scheme in proceedings against the promoters of the scheme
Professional Negligence
- Defended professional negligence claims made against an engineering firm in relation to a failed project for the construction of a landmark national museum.
- Defended financial advisors against claims relating to mis-selling of financial products and negligent advice.
- Defended a manufacturer of backup power systems against claims alleging negligent design and installation of critical infrastructure.
- Defended a leading firm of solicitors against negligence proceedings relating to property development advice.
- Defended various firms of accountants against allegations of negligent audit work and failure to identify frauds.
Aviation
- Advised a leasing operator on various charter disputes.
- Acted on a dispute relating to damage to a commercial aircraft during maintenance work.
- Acted for the interim CEO of a national carrier on a dispute arising out of the terms of his appointment.
- Advised a Middle-Eastern state on a substantial fraud relating to the purchase of an executive jet.
- Acted for a provider of airport services in dispute with major airlines following consolidation within the aviation industry.
Education
- Acted for the vendors of an education business in a dispute with the purchaser.
- Acted for the London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine in litigation concerning the conduct of a clinical trial.
- Acted for an educational institution in London in defending a wide range of claims made by a PhD student.
- Acted for the managing director of an education business in recovering sums owed to him by his employers.
- Advised on a negligence claim relating to the construction of a school sports hall.
Energy & Natural Resources
- Acted for British Nuclear Fuels in long-running litigation with international customers concerning the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel
- Acted on a $100m ICC arbitration relating to the design and construction of chemical plants in the Middle East.
- Acted for one of the world’s leading commodities traders on a range of oil cargo disputes.
- Advised a commodities trader on a dispute about a $30m consignment of jet fuel impounded in the Middle East.
- Advised investors in a solar farm project on disputes with counterparties.
Financial Services
- Acted for a leading provider of pre-paid cards and payment services on numerous disputes with customers.
- Advised clients on recovery of monies from failed e-money institutions.
- Advised a consumer credit provider on its position following an intervention by the FCA.
- Acted for investors in major film finance litigation.
- Acted for NOMADs in connection with the largest fraud on the AIM market (the Langbar litigation).
Food & Beverage
- Advised a leading drinks manufacturer on a business-critical dispute with a distributor.
- Acted for a producer of mineral water in a dispute with a supplier over contaminated cans.
- Acted for a startup beverage brand in a dispute with a design consultancy.
- Advised a senior executive of a global restaurant chain on an earn-out dispute.
- Advised the founder and majority shareholder of a food packaging business on a shareholder dispute.
Healthcare & Lifesciences
- Acted for the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in litigation concerning the conduct of a clinical trial.
- Advised a provider of clinical trials services on various contractual disputes with sponsors.
- Acted for a biotechnology company in a dispute with a supplier concerning a defective clinical study.
- Advised on issues arising between life sciences companies and animal rights protestors.
- Acted for a manufacturer of oncology scanning devices in litigation with its Chinese distributor.
Hotels, Hospitality and Leisure
- Advised a central London hotel on issues arising out of sexual misconduct by one of its employees.
- Advised central London hospitality venues on access issues and discrimination claims.
- Acted for hospitality venues on health and safety claims, including in relation to an incident involving the death of a patron.
- Acted on disputes between franchisors and franchisees of major restaurant chains.
- Advised a senior executive of a global restaurant chain on an earn-out dispute.
Media
- Acted for the Turkish licensee of the MTV and Nickelodeon channels in litigation with Vicaom.
- Advised a PR agency on a substantial fee claim against a client in the context of a listing.
- Acted for a media company in defending intellectual property claims brought by a supermodel.
- Advised a design consultancy on a dispute with a client over the redesign of a major theatre.
- Advised a media design business on disputes with customers arising out of various campaigns.
Middle East
- Acted on a $100m arbitration relating to the design and construction of chemical plants in the Middle East.
- Advised a Middle Eastern state on a substantial fraud relating to the purchase of an executive jet.
- Advised a national telecommunications provider on issues arising out of a civil war in its territory.
- Advised an international telecommunications cable consortium on issues arising out of the incorrect placement of a cable in the Red Sea.
- Acted on a dispute relating to the supply of oil rigs to the Middle East.
Oil & Gas
- Acted for one of the world’s leading commodities traders on oil cargo disputes.
- Advised a commodities trader on a dispute concerning a $30m consignment of jet fuel impounded in the Middle East.
- Advised on claims arising out of the construction of a major liquid gas terminal in Europe.
- Acted on an arbitration concerning a long-term gas supply agreement.
- Acted on a dispute relating to the supply of oil rigs to the Middle East.
Private Client
- Acted for an UHNW individual in claims relating to the construction of a luxury house in Surrey.
- Acted for an HNW individual in fraud proceedings against family members relating to a London property portfolio.
- Acted for an HNW individual in fraud proceedings relating to the purchase of a substantial listed property in the Home Counties.
- Acted on a dispute relating to ownership of the world’s largest ruby.
- Acted on a dispute relating to ownership of Egyptian antiquities.
Professional Practices
- Defended a firm of solicitors in a £20m negligence claim relating to a failed property transaction.
- Defended a leading accountancy practice against multiple claims relating to failures to detect fraud .
- Acted for an engineering firm in claims relating to the construction of a bridge in the Far East.
- Acted for an engineering firm in negligence claims relating to the construction of an airport in the Middle East.
- Acted for a professional services firm in litigation concerning the establishment of offshore trusts.
Telecoms & Technology
- Acted for Dupont in litigation in the Court of Appeal relating to flat screen display technology.
- Advised a manufacturer of scientific devices in a dispute about the redesign of instrument software.
- Advised a national telecommunications provider on issues arising out of a civil war in its territory.
- Acted for a financial software company on a dispute over software development.
- Advised a manufacturer of navigational aids on numerous contract disputes.
Other
- HMA v Megrahi & Fhimah: acted as part of a team project managing the defence of the accused in the Lockerbie bombing case.
- The Harold Shipman Inquiry: instructed by the Inquiry to gather evidence in cases where serial killer Harold Shipman was suspected of having murdered patients.
- Acted for inmates on death row in the Caribbean: securing the commutation of the death sentence imposed on individuals in Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Career
Simon qualified as a solicitor in 2000. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2008, he worked at Eversheds.