Our Barristers
  • Overview

    Simon is an experienced litigator with an international practice. As well as being called to the Bar in England and Wales, he has been called to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in the territory of the British Virgin Islands. He has significant experience of dealing with international issues and heavyweight cases. He has attended court in The Bahamas, the Isle of Man and the British Virgin Islands, has appeared before the Court of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean, has appeared in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal in England, and has appeared twice in the Privy Council. He regularly deals with cases involving millions, and sometimes billions, of pounds. Simon appeared (unled) in the multi-billion pound Equitable Life litigation (one of the most contentious cases of the decade), has advised in proceedings in Antigua & Barbuda, and has acted in a stream of major high value disputes, including the huge BTA Bank litigation in the BVI and London (one of the largest cases of the year according to The Lawyer) and a number of high value and hotly contested disputes in Jersey. The value which he brings to clients is widely recognised: he is “a mighty intellect and brings piercing analysis and meticulous attention to detail to his work” (Legal 500), he “enjoys a stellar practice” (Chambers Global), “his mastery of complex factual background is hugely impressive” (Legal 500) and he is “a major boost to any legal team” (Chambers UK Bar).

  • Commercial Litigation

    Simon has substantial experience of acting in high value and heavyweight cases, usually with an international element and often involving foreign systems of law (whether within Europe or further afield).

    His cases include the following:

    • He appeared (unled) in the multi-billion pound Equitable Life litigation. This was one of the most contentious and highly-reported cases of the decade.
    • He acted extensively in at least seven of the individual proceedings in the multi-billion dollar BTA Bank fraud litigation in the BVI and London, one of the largest cases of the year according to The Lawyer. In several of these cases he was instructed unled, notwithstanding the exceptional amounts involved. He appeared both in England and the BVI.
    • He acted extensively in the heavyweight Bitel v Kyrgyz Mobil Tel litigation, a claim for over $600 million, attending court twice in the Isle of Man (both at first instance and on appeal) and also appearing in the Privy Council (AK Investment CJSC v Kyrgyz Mobil Tel Ltd [2011] UKPC 7, [2012] 1 WLR 1804).
    • He appeared in the heavyweight Oracle Fund litigation, a claim pleaded for nearly $200 million, attending court twice in The Bahamas (at first instance and in the Court of Appeal) and also appearing in the Privy Council (FFSB Ltd (formerly Fortis Fund Services (Bahamas) Ltd) v Seward & Kissel LLP [2007] UKPC 16).
    • He acted extensively in the heavyweight Lamane dispute in the BVI, appearing both at first instance (in the Supreme Court of the British Virgin Islands) and on appeal to the Court of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean.
    • He acted extensively in the long-running and hotly-contested Re Estate of C litigation in Jersey, a dispute over a $1 billion estate raising issues spanning numerous jurisdictions.
    • He appeared in the Aziz litigation in England, an exceptionally high value matrimonial dispute centred on a £1.1 billion trust and company structure, which involved points of English company law and trusts law, Manx law, Gibraltar law, Cayman Islands law and EU law, and which made international headlines.
    • He had extensive involvement in the long-running and closely-fought Pirrwitz v AI/PI litigation in Jersey, which culminated in two three-week trials and numerous interim hearings along the way.
    • He acted extensively in the Teekay v Diamond Pacific litigation, led by a silk from Brick Court Chambers, involving shares in a shipping company valued at nearly $60 million.
    • He was instructed by two global solicitors’ firms (by the Cayman office of one and the Hong Kong office of the other) in relation to a $2.2 billion shareholders’ dispute in the Cayman Islands over a well-known global company and which threatened the very existence of the company.
    • He advised a defendant in a third party claim which had been brought against him in relation to various high value ($150 million) frauds which had been perpetrated on a bank by several of its employees.
    • He advised a Luxembourg company in relation to a freezing injunction which had been obtained against it for more than £1.1 billion by a consortium of foreign banks.
    • He advised a Florida law firm in relation to a multi-million dollar claim seeking to prevent the disposition of various high-value sports cars. The underlying claim was based in Brazil but involved companies in Florida, Italy and the British Virgin Islands, with parallel proceedings in several jurisdictions.
    • He advised an investment company owned by an East Asian investor in relation to a dispute and suspected fraud by agents concerning the sale and purchase of a high-rise city centre commercial building.
    • He advised a successful BVI AIM-listed plc in an international dispute concerning one of its wealthy former directors, which raised issues of British Virgin Islands company law and contract law, English company law and contract law, Monaco law, and international enforcement.
    • He advised in a series of disputes regarding the hostile multi-million pound takeover of an LSE-listed English plc by a BVI company, which raised allegations of breaches of fiduciary duty, a threatened petition for the just and equitable winding-up of the target company, defamation, and alleged breaches of the Takeover Code and the Companies Act.
    • He advised extensively in relation to a multi-million pound dispute concerning the earn-out and earn-up provisions of a share purchase agreement relating to a supplier of security products to a number of well-known household name stores in the UK, USA, Europe and East Asia.
    • He advised a major high street bank in a multi-million pound international claim arising out of a major fraud perpetrated on a foreign bank.
    • He acted for the Italian liquidators of the famous Italian football club, Venezia, on the international enforcement of a substantial (€4 million) judgment obtained against the debtor in the Italian courts as a result of the debtor’s alleged fraud.
    • He advised in a substantial claim in the British Virgin Islands for the equitable winding-up of a substantial BVI company, which was the holding company of a large and high value international group of companies with subsidiaries in the British Virgin Islands, United States and (ultimately) China.
    • He advised a Bahraini company in a dispute with two Saudi Arabian corporate conglomerates concerning a major corporate joint venture franchise in the Middle East and North Africa.
    • He advised a well-known national courier company in a dispute with another well-known national logistics company over the termination of a major contract for the supply of postal and courier services.
    • He appeared successfully for the claimant purchaser in the week-long trial of a dispute over the purchase of proposed development land in Argentina which formed part of a polo club, involving extensive questions of Argentine contract law, company law and property law.
    • He advised the directors of a plc whose wholly-owned subsidiary had been placed into administration and then into liquidation, in relation to a substantial disputed intercompany loan of more than £12 million which was said to be owing to the parent company.
    • He advised an Italian investor in a breach of warranty and fraudulent misrepresentation claim for several million dollars against an English company (part of a group valued at $1 billion) and its managing director.
    • He has been instructed jointly by both opposing sides in various commercial disputes as part of alternative dispute resolution to produce either an expert determination of the matters in dispute or to produce a joint non-binding opinion as a private early neutral evaluation (ENE) to assist in settlement negotiations.
    • He has appeared in high value international commercial arbitrations in Paris and London.
    • He successfully represented the Claimants in a complex international dispute regarding the trust funds of two Cypriot trusts which own investment companies in the British Virgin Islands and Panama, with Swiss broking accounts, Seychelles and Cypriot nominees, and substantial failed investments in Greece. The case involved allegations under Cypriot law of deceit, breach of trust, dishonest assistance in a breach of trust, breach of fiduciary duties, and negligence, and also allegations of breach of contract and various torts under Swiss law. The Claimants succeeded in obtaining a worldwide freezing order against the Defendant for in excess of £15 million, and they also successfully resisted a challenge to the jurisdiction of the English courts on the ground of forum non conveniens (Al Assam v Tsouvelekakis[2022] EWHC 2137 (Ch), [2022] EWHC 2111 (Ch), [2022] EWHC 451 (Ch), [2022] WTLR 787).
    • Simon has advised a Cayman company extensively in relation to a multi-billion dollar fraud in which a British Virgin Islands company in which it is a shareholder is said to have been involved, and has also advised in relation to a related unfair prejudice claim, a multi-million dollar breach of warranty claim and fraudulent misrepresentation claim.
    • Simon is advising a former monarch in relation to a high value claim involving allegations of harassment, defamation and breach of privacy.
    • Simon is advising in a dispute in Antigua & Barbuda regarding the validity of service under the Eastern Caribbean Electronic Litigation Procedure Rules, and is instructed on the hearing of the appeal before the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal later this year.
    • Simon has advised an Italian company in a multi-million pound shareholder dispute regarding an English international joint venture company which owns the IP for a household-name international clothing brand, and in relation to the operation of a Europe-wide licence for the manufacture and distribution of that brand.
    • Simon has advised an international development company with headquarters in the UK on a multi-million dollar dispute with a foreign government concerning the supply of a substantial amount of heavy equipment sourced from around Europe.
    • Simon is representing the claimant in a £10 million claim for breach of warranties and payment under an indemnity in relation to a share sale agreement for the entire issued share capital in a company providing further education.
    • Simon is advising a Dutch company in relation to its dispute with a Lithuanian company, a Cypriot company and an English company concerning the repayment of a substantial sum held as electronic money by an Authorised Electronic Money Institution.
    • Simon is advising a Cayman Islands shareholder in relation to a potential multi-million pound claim for professional negligence against solicitors in drafting a share purchase agreement and shareholders’ agreement relating to a BVI company with a claimed value in excess of $10 billion.
  • Company & Partnership

    Simon is an experienced commercial litigator with an international practice.  He has attended court in The Bahamas, the Isle of Man and the BVI, and has appeared twice in the Privy Council.  He has been called to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in the BVI.

    He regularly deals with cases involving tens or hundreds of millions, and sometimes billions, of pounds.  Simon appeared (unled) in the multi-billion pound Equitable Life litigation (one of the most contentious cases of the decade) and has acted in a stream of major high value disputes, including the huge BTA Bank litigation in the BVI and London (one of the largest cases of the year according to The Lawyer) and a number of high value and hotly contested disputes in Jersey.

    The value which he brings to clients is widely recognised: he is “a mighty intellect and brings piercing analysis and meticulous attention to detail to his work” (Legal 500), he “enjoys a stellar practice” (Chambers Global), “his mastery of complex factual background is hugely impressive” (Legal 500) and he is “a major boost to any legal team” (Chambers UK Bar).

    Directory acknowledgements include:

    “He has a keen analytical mind, is commercial and is very good at advising on tactics.”
    Chambers UK Bar 2017 – Company

    “His legal analysis is of the highest quality and he turns work around in tight timeframes”
    Legal 500 2016 – Company

    His cases include the following:

    • He appeared (unled) in the multi-billion pound Equitable Life litigation. This was one of the most contentious and highly-reported cases of the decade.
    • He acted extensively in at least seven of the individual proceedings in the multi-billion dollar BTA Bank fraud litigation in the BVI and London, one of the largest cases of the year according to The Lawyer. In several of these cases he was instructed unled, notwithstanding the exceptional amounts involved. He appeared both in England and the BVI.
    • He acted extensively in the heavyweight Bitel v Kyrgyz Mobil Tel litigation, a claim for over $600 million, attending court twice in the Isle of Man (both at first instance and on appeal) and also appearing in the Privy Council (AK Investment CJSC v Kyrgyz Mobil Tel Ltd [2011] UKPC 7, [2012] 1 WLR 1804).
    • He appeared in the heavyweight Oracle Fund litigation, a claim pleaded for nearly $200 million, attending court twice in The Bahamas (at first instance and in the Court of Appeal) and also appearing in the Privy Council (FFSB Ltd (formerly Fortis Fund Services (Bahamas) Ltd) v Seward & Kissel LLP [2007] UKPC 16).
    • He acted extensively in the heavyweight Lamane dispute in the BVI, appearing both at first instance (in the Supreme Court of the British Virgin Islands) and on appeal to the Court of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean.
    • He acted extensively in the long-running and hotly-contested Re Estate of C litigation in Jersey, a dispute over a $1 billion estate raising issues spanning numerous jurisdictions.
    • He appeared in the Aziz litigation in England, an exceptionally high value matrimonial dispute centred on a £1.1 billion trust and company structure, which involved points of English company law and trusts law, Manx law, Gibraltar law, Cayman Islands law and EU law, and which made international headlines.
    • He had extensive involvement in the long-running and closely-fought Pirrwitz v AI/PI litigation in Jersey, which culminated in two three-week trials and numerous interim hearings along the way.
    • He acted extensively in the Teekay v Diamond Pacific litigation, led by a silk from Brick Court Chambers, involving shares in a shipping company valued at nearly $60 million.
    • He was instructed by two global solicitors’ firms (by the Cayman office of one and the Hong Kong office of the other) in relation to a $2.2 billion shareholders’ dispute in the Cayman Islands over a well-known global company and which threatened the very existence of the company.
    • He advised a defendant in a third party claim which had been brought against him in relation to various high value ($150 million) frauds which had been perpetrated on a bank by several of its employees.
    • He advised a Luxembourg company in relation to a freezing injunction which had been obtained against it for more than £1.1 billion by a consortium of foreign banks.
    • He advised a Florida law firm in relation to a multi-million dollar claim seeking to prevent the disposition of various high-value sports cars. The underlying claim was based in Brazil but involved companies in Florida, Italy and the British Virgin Islands, with parallel proceedings in several jurisdictions.
    • He advised an investment company owned by an East Asian investor in relation to a dispute and suspected fraud by agents concerning the sale and purchase of a high-rise city centre commercial building.
    • He advised a successful BVI AIM-listed plc in an international dispute concerning one of its wealthy former directors, which raised issues of British Virgin Islands company law and contract law, English company law and contract law, Monaco law, and international enforcement.
    • He advised in a series of disputes regarding the hostile multi-million pound takeover of an LSE-listed English plc by a BVI company, which raised allegations of breaches of fiduciary duty, a threatened petition for the just and equitable winding-up of the target company, defamation, and alleged breaches of the Takeover Code and the Companies Act.
    • He advised extensively in relation to a multi-million pound dispute concerning the earn-out and earn-up provisions of a share purchase agreement relating to a supplier of security products to a number of well-known household name stores in the UK, USA, Europe and East Asia.
    • He advised a major high street bank in a multi-million pound international claim arising out of a major fraud perpetrated on a foreign bank.
    • He acted for the Italian liquidators of the famous Italian football club, Venezia, on the international enforcement of a substantial (€4 million) judgment obtained against the debtor in the Italian courts as a result of the debtor’s alleged fraud.
    • He advised in a substantial claim in the British Virgin Islands for the equitable winding-up of a substantial BVI company, which was the holding company of a large and high value international group of companies with subsidiaries in the British Virgin Islands, United States and (ultimately) China.
    • He advised a Bahraini company in a dispute with two Saudi Arabian corporate conglomerates concerning a major corporate joint venture franchise in the Middle East and North Africa.
    • He advised a well-known national courier company in a dispute with another well-known national logistics company over the termination of a major contract for the supply of postal and courier services.
    • He appeared successfully for the claimant purchaser in the week-long trial of a dispute over the purchase of proposed development land in Argentina which formed part of a polo club, involving extensive questions of Argentine contract law, company law and property law.
    • He advised the directors of a plc whose wholly-owned subsidiary had been placed into administration and then into liquidation, in relation to a substantial disputed intercompany loan of more than £12 million which was said to be owing to the parent company.
    • He advised an Italian investor in a breach of warranty and fraudulent misrepresentation claim for several million dollars against an English company (part of a group valued at $1 billion) and its managing director.
    • He has been instructed jointly by both opposing sides in various commercial disputes as part of alternative dispute resolution to produce either an expert determination of the matters in dispute or to produce a joint non-binding opinion as a private early neutral evaluation (ENE) to assist in settlement negotiations.
    • He has appeared in high value international commercial arbitrations in Paris and London.
    • He successfully represented the Claimants in a complex international dispute regarding the trust funds of two Cypriot trusts which own investment companies in the British Virgin Islands and Panama, with Swiss broking accounts, Seychelles and Cypriot nominees, and substantial failed investments in Greece. The case involved allegations under Cypriot law of deceit, breach of trust, dishonest assistance in a breach of trust, breach of fiduciary duties, and negligence, and also allegations of breach of contract and various torts under Swiss law. The Claimants succeeded in obtaining a worldwide freezing order against the Defendant for in excess of £15 million, and they also successfully resisted a challenge to the jurisdiction of the English courts on the ground of forum non conveniens (Al Assam v Tsouvelekakis[2022] EWHC 2137 (Ch), [2022] EWHC 2111 (Ch), [2022] EWHC 451 (Ch), [2022] WTLR 787).
    • Simon has advised a Cayman company extensively in relation to a multi-billion dollar fraud in which a British Virgin Islands company in which it is a shareholder is said to have been involved, and has also advised in relation to a related unfair prejudice claim, a multi-million dollar breach of warranty claim and fraudulent misrepresentation claim.
    • Simon is advising a former monarch in relation to a high value claim involving allegations of harassment, defamation and breach of privacy.
    • Simon has advised an Italian company in a multi-million pound shareholder dispute regarding an English international joint venture company which owns the IP for a household-name international clothing brand, and in relation to the operation of a Europe-wide licence for the manufacture and distribution of that brand.
    • Simon is representing the claimant in a £10 million claim for breach of warranties and payment under an indemnity in relation to a share sale agreement for the entire issued share capital in a company providing further education.
    • Simon is advising in a multi-million pound shareholder dispute in relation to a company formed to take advantage of business property relief, raising issues of just and equitable winding-up, unfair prejudice and derivative claims.
    • Simon is advising a Cayman Islands shareholder in relation to a potential multi-million pound claim for professional negligence against solicitors in drafting a share purchase agreement and shareholders’ agreement relating to a BVI company with a claimed value in excess of $10 billion.
    • Simon is advising one of the shareholders and directors on the structure and constitution of a BVI company and its application for a licence to practise in the BVI.
  • Offshore & International

    Simon is an experienced commercial litigator with an international practice.  He has attended court in The Bahamas, the Isle of Man and the BVI, and has appeared twice in the Privy Council.  He has been called to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in the BVI.

    He regularly deals with cases involving tens or hundreds of millions, and sometimes billions, of pounds.  Simon appeared (unled) in the multi-billion pound Equitable Life litigation (one of the most contentious cases of the decade) and has acted in a stream of major high value disputes, including the huge BTA Bank litigation in the BVI and London (one of the largest cases of the year according to The Lawyer) and a number of high value and hotly contested disputes in Jersey.

    The value which he brings to clients is widely recognised: he is“a mighty intellect andbrings piercing analysis and meticulous attention to detail to his work”(Legal 500), he“enjoys a stellar practice”(Chambers Global),“his mastery of complex factual background is hugely impressive”(Legal 500) and he is“a major boost to any legal team”(Chambers UK Bar).

    He has wide experience of dealing with international issues and heavy cases including:

    • He acted extensively in at least seven of the individual proceedings in the multi-billion dollar BTA Bank fraud litigation in the BVI and London, one of the largest cases of the year according to The Lawyer. In several of these cases he was instructed unled, notwithstanding the exceptional amounts involved. He appeared both in England and the BVI.
    • He acted extensively in the heavyweight Bitel v Kyrgyz Mobil Tel litigation, a claim for over $600 million, attending court twice in the Isle of Man (both at first instance and on appeal) and also appearing in the Privy Council (AK Investment CJSC v Kyrgyz Mobil Tel Ltd [2011] UKPC 7, [2012] 1 WLR 1804).
    • He appeared in the heavyweight Oracle Fund litigation, a claim pleaded for nearly $200 million, attending court twice in The Bahamas (at first instance and in the Court of Appeal) and also appearing in the Privy Council (FFSB Ltd (formerly Fortis Fund Services (Bahamas) Ltd) v Seward & Kissel LLP [2007] UKPC 16).
    • He acted extensively in the heavyweight Lamane dispute in the BVI, appearing both at first instance (in the Supreme Court of the British Virgin Islands) and on appeal to the Court of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean.
    • He acted extensively in the long-running and hotly-contested Re Estate of C litigation in Jersey, a dispute over a $1 billion estate raising issues spanning numerous jurisdictions.
    • He appeared in the Aziz litigation in England, an exceptionally high value matrimonial dispute centred on a £1.1 billion trust and company structure, which involved points of English company law and trusts law, Manx law, Gibraltar law, Cayman Islands law and EU law, and which made international headlines.
    • He had extensive involvement in the long-running and closely-fought Pirrwitz v AI/PI litigation in Jersey, which culminated in two three-week trials and numerous interim hearings along the way.
    • He acted extensively in the Teekay v Diamond Pacific litigation, led by a silk from Brick Court Chambers, involving shares in a shipping company valued at nearly $60 million.
    • He was instructed by two global solicitors’ firms (by the Cayman office of one and the Hong Kong office of the other) in relation to a $2.2 billion shareholders’ dispute in the Cayman Islands over a well-known global company and which threatened the very existence of the company.
    • He advised a Luxembourg company in relation to a freezing injunction which had been obtained against it for more than £1.1 billion by a consortium of foreign banks.
    • He advised a Florida law firm in relation to a multi-million dollar claim seeking to prevent the disposition of various high-value sports cars. The underlying claim was based in Brazil but involved companies in Florida, Italy and the British Virgin Islands, with parallel proceedings in several jurisdictions.
    • He advised a successful BVI AIM-listed plc in an international dispute concerning one of its wealthy former directors, which raised issues of British Virgin Islands company law and contract law, English company law and contract law, Monaco law, and international enforcement.
    • He advised extensively in relation to a multi-million pound dispute concerning the earn-out and earn-up provisions of a share purchase agreement relating to a supplier of security products to a number of well-known household name stores in the UK, USA, Europe and East Asia.
    • He advised a major high street bank in a multi-million pound international claim arising out of a major fraud perpetrated on a foreign bank.
    • He acted for the Italian liquidators of the famous Italian football club, Venezia, on the international enforcement of a substantial (€4 million) judgment obtained against the debtor in the Italian courts as a result of the debtor’s alleged fraud.
    • He advised in a substantial claim in the British Virgin Islands for the equitable winding-up of a substantial BVI company, which was the holding company of a large and high value international group of companies with subsidiaries in the British Virgin Islands, United States and (ultimately) China.
    • He advised a Bahraini company in a dispute with two Saudi Arabian corporate conglomerates concerning a major corporate joint venture franchise in the Middle East and North Africa.
    • He appeared successfully for the claimant purchaser in the week-long trial of a dispute over the purchase of proposed development land in Argentina which formed part of a polo club, involving extensive questions of Argentine contract law, company law and property law.
    • He advised an Italian investor in a breach of warranty and fraudulent misrepresentation claim for several million dollars against an English company (part of a group valued at $1 billion) and its managing director.
    • He has appeared in high value international commercial arbitrations in Paris and London.
    • He successfully represented the Claimants in a complex international dispute regarding the trust funds of two Cypriot trusts which own investment companies in the British Virgin Islands and Panama, with Swiss broking accounts, Seychelles and Cypriot nominees, and substantial failed investments in Greece. The case involved allegations under Cypriot law of deceit, breach of trust, dishonest assistance in a breach of trust, breach of fiduciary duties, and negligence, and also allegations of breach of contract and various torts under Swiss law. The Claimants succeeded in obtaining a worldwide freezing order against the Defendant for in excess of £15 million, and they also successfully resisted a challenge to the jurisdiction of the English courts on the ground of forum non conveniens (Al Assam v Tsouvelekakis [2022] EWHC 2137 (Ch), [2022] EWHC 2111 (Ch), [2022] EWHC 451 (Ch), [2022] WTLR 787).
    • Simon has advised a Cayman company extensively in relation to a multi-billion dollar fraud in which a British Virgin Islands company in which it is a shareholder is said to have been involved, and has also advised in relation to a related unfair prejudice claim, a multi-million dollar breach of warranty claim and fraudulent misrepresentation claim.
    • Simon is advising a former monarch in relation to a high value claim involving allegations of harassment, defamation and breach of privacy.
    • Simon is advising in a dispute in Antigua & Barbuda regarding the validity of service under the Eastern Caribbean Electronic Litigation Procedure Rules, and is instructed on the hearing of the appeal before the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal later this year.
    • Simon is advising a Cayman Islands shareholder in relation to a potential multi-million pound claim for professional negligence against solicitors in drafting a share purchase agreement and shareholders’ agreement relating to a BVI company with a claimed value in excess of $10 billion.
    • Simon is advising a Dutch company in relation to its dispute with a Lithuanian company, a Cypriot company and an English company concerning the repayment of a substantial sum held as electronic money by an Authorised Electronic Money Institution.
    • Simon is advising one of the shareholders and directors on the structure and constitution of a BVI company and its application for a licence to practise in the BVI.
  • Property

    Simon has wide experience of cases involving public access over land, including public rights of way, commons and town or village greens. He has appeared in the Supreme Court in the leading case on statutory incompatibility in relation to town or village greens. He has also appeared at the public inquiry, at first instance and in the Court of Appeal in the leading case on the meaning of “curtilage of a building”. He has also appeared at first instance and in the Court of Appeal on the leading case on the factors to be considered on an application for a public path diversion order. He has appeared at various public inquiries in relation to public highways matters and commons matters. In addition, he has wide experience of advising landowners, nominating groups or local authorities in relation to assets of community value, and he is the sole author of the leading practitioner textbook dedicated to the subject, Assets of Community Value: Law and Practice.  

    His cases include the following:

    • R (Lancashire County Council) v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; R (NHS Property Services Ltd) v Surrey County Council [2019] UKSC 58, [2021] AC 194 – Supreme Court – town or village greens – registration of land held by public authority as town or village green – statutory incompatibility between purposes for which land held by public authority and recreational use of town or village green – effect of Supreme Court decision in R (Newhaven Port and Properties Ltd) v East Sussex County Council [2015] UKSC 7.
    • R (Hampshire County Council) v Blackbushe Airport Ltd [2021] EWCA Civ 398, [2022] QB 103 (Court of Appeal) and [2020] EWHC 959 (Admin), [2021] QB 89 (Holgate J) (the “Blackbushe Airport” case) – commons – de-registration of common land – Schedule 2 to Commons Act 2006 – meaning of “curtilage of a building” – whether entire operational land of an airport could form part of the “curtilage” of the terminal building – Simon is continuing to advise Hampshire County Council in relation to the detailed impact of the Court of Appeal decision on the facts of the application.
    • Open Spaces Society v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [2021] EWCA Civ 241, [2021] PTSR 1295 (Court of Appeal) and [2020] EWHC 1085 (Admin), [2020] PTSR 1626 (Lieven J) (the “Rollright” case) – public rights of way – footpaths and bridleways – public path diversion orders under section 119 Highways Act 1980 – whether statutory list of material considerations was exhaustive list.
    • R (Pereira) v Environment and Traffic Adjudicators [2020] EWHC 811 (Admin), [2020] 4 WLR 134 (Fordham J) – public highways – penalty charge notices – footway parking – pavement parking – parking on own land – “road to which public has access” – whether public needs to have factual and lawful access – implied licence for public to gain access when owner’s car not parked there.
    • R (Comber) v (1) Hampshire County Council and (2) Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Claim No. CO/762/2020 (Lieven J) (the “Broxhead Common” case) – commons – judicial review – alleged mistake by commons registration authority in removing common land from register decades ago – section 19 Commons Act 2006 – Commons Registration Act 1965 – nature of required mistake.
    • Comber v Hampshire County Council – Simon successfully represented Hampshire County Council (as Commons Registration Authority) at the hearings of two applications seeking to amend the register of common land for the area near Broxhead Common in Hampshire under section 19 of the Commons Act 2006.
    • Open Spaces Society v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [2022] EWHC 3044 (Admin) (Sir Ross Cranston) (the “Barking Tye” case) – commons – consent for restricted works on common land under section 38 Commons Act 2006 – relationship between application under section 38 for consent to carry out restricted works on common land and application under section 16 for de-registration and exchange of common land – need to consider potential alternatives to proposed works.
    • He acted for the London Borough of Lambeth in relation to the applications to register the Undercroft on the Southbank in London as town or village green and as an asset of community value, which attracted widespread media attention.
    • Simon has advised various local authorities on a wide variety of issues in relation to assets of community value (ACVs).
  • Civil Fraud

    Simon regularly deals with cases involving tens or hundreds of millions, and sometimes billions, of pounds. His practice is extremely international. He has attended court in The Bahamas, the Isle of Man and the British Virgin Islands, has appeared in the Court of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean, has appeared in the Supreme Court in England, and has appeared (twice) in the Privy Council. He has had significant involvement in a number of substantial cases in Jersey, and has also been called to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

    Simon’s record includes acting in a stream of major high value and heavyweight cases, including:

    • He acted extensively in at least seven of the individual proceedings in the multi-billion dollar BTA Bank fraud litigation in the BVI and London, one of the largest cases of the year according to The Lawyer. In several of these cases he was instructed unled, notwithstanding the exceptional amounts involved. He appeared both in England and the BVI.
    • He acted extensively in the heavyweight Bitel v Kyrgyz Mobil Tel litigation, a claim for over $600 million, attending court twice in the Isle of Man (both at first instance and on appeal) and also appearing in the Privy Council (AK Investment CJSC v Kyrgyz Mobil Tel Ltd [2011] UKPC 7, [2012] 1 WLR 1804).
    • He acted extensively in the heavyweight Lamane dispute in the BVI, appearing both at first instance (in the Supreme Court of the British Virgin Islands) and on appeal to the Court of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean.
    • He appeared in the Aziz litigation in England, an exceptionally high value matrimonial dispute centred on a £1.1 billion trust and company structure, which involved points of English company law and trusts law, Manx law, Gibraltar law, Cayman Islands law and EU law, and which made international headlines.
    • He had extensive involvement in the long-running and closely-fought Pirrwitz v AI/PI litigation in Jersey, which culminated in two three-week trials and numerous interim hearings along the way.
    • He advised a defendant in a third party claim which had been brought against him in relation to various high value ($150 million) frauds which had been perpetrated on a bank by several of its employees.
    • He advised a Luxembourg company in relation to a freezing injunction which had been obtained against it for more than £1.1 billion by a consortium of foreign banks.
    • He advised a Florida law firm in relation to a multi-million dollar claim seeking to prevent the disposition of various high-value sports cars. The underlying claim was based in Brazil but involved companies in Florida, Italy and the British Virgin Islands, with parallel proceedings in several jurisdictions.
    • He advised an investment company owned by an East Asian investor in relation to a dispute and suspected fraud by agents concerning the sale and purchase of a high-rise city centre commercial building.
    • He advised a major high street bank in a multi-million pound international claim arising out of a major fraud perpetrated on a foreign bank.
    • He acted for the Italian liquidators of the famous Italian football club, Venezia, on the international enforcement of a substantial (€4 million) judgment obtained against the debtor in the Italian courts as a result of the debtor’s alleged fraud.
    • He appeared successfully for the claimant purchaser in the week-long trial of a dispute over the purchase of proposed development land in Argentina which formed part of a polo club, involving extensive questions of Argentine contract law, company law and property law.
    • He advised an Italian investor in a breach of warranty and fraudulent misrepresentation claim for several million dollars against an English company (part of a group valued at $1 billion) and its managing director.
    • He has appeared in high value international commercial arbitrations in Paris and London.
    • He successfully represented the Claimants in a complex international dispute regarding the trust funds of two Cypriot trusts which own investment companies in the British Virgin Islands and Panama, with Swiss broking accounts, Seychelles and Cypriot nominees, and substantial failed investments in Greece. The case involved allegations under Cypriot law of deceit, breach of trust, dishonest assistance in a breach of trust, breach of fiduciary duties, and negligence, and also allegations of breach of contract and various torts under Swiss law. The Claimants succeeded in obtaining a worldwide freezing order against the Defendant for in excess of £15 million, and they also successfully resisted a challenge to the jurisdiction of the English courts on the ground of forum non conveniens (Al Assam v Tsouvelekakis [2022] EWHC 2137 (Ch), [2022] EWHC 2111 (Ch), [2022] EWHC 451 (Ch), [2022] WTLR 787).
    • Simon has advised a Cayman company extensively in relation to a multi-billion dollar fraud in which a British Virgin Islands company in which it is a shareholder is said to have been involved, and has also advised in relation to a related unfair prejudice claim, a multi-million dollar breach of warranty claim and fraudulent misrepresentation claim.
  • Awards

    • Triple first in law at Cambridge
    • Top in the University in all three years of his law degree, plus a Starred First in his first year
    • LL.M. (Harvard Law School)
    • Awarded a large number of University and College prizes and scholarships
    • Awarded Hardwicke, Mansfield and Denning scholarships by Lincoln’s Inn
    • Awarded a Kennedy Scholarship for Harvard Law School
  • Professional appointments

    • Former Treasurer of the Chancery Bar Association
    • Former member of the Chancery Division Court Users’ Committee
    • One of the Chancery Bar Association’s representatives in relation to HM Court Service’s proposed “E-Working Project”
  • Memberships

    • Chancery Bar Association
    • Bar Pro Bono Unit
  • Languages

    • Good working knowledge of French
  • Other

    • Highly proficient in a number of areas of IT
  • Publications

    Books:

    Articles:

    • Author of a large number of articles in legal journals and online
  • What the directories say

    “Phenomenally detail-driven. A very strong advocate who is amazingly well-prepared.”

    Legal 500 Caribbean Guide 2024 – English Bar Offshore; Tier 1

    “Simon Adamyk is doing a lot of impressive work in the space.”

    Chambers UK Bar 2024 – Agriculture & Rural Affairs; Band 3

    “Clever and diligent, he really investigates all angles of the case, yet still provides swift, practical advice. A very good all-rounder, he can pick up the essence of any commercial legal issue and analyse it thoroughly and effectively. He’s also unfailingly polite and very friendly.”

    “His attention to detail is absolutely incredible. He’s able to dig into the brief and manage a vast volume of information very quickly.”

    “I’ve never seen someone with such a level of foresight and the way he takes a judge through the evidence is so easy that it’s almost conversational.”

    Chambers UK Bar 2024 – Chancery: Commercial; Band 2

    “Simon really investigates all the angles of the legal problem. He gives swift practical advice and is unfailingly polite to lawyers and clients.”

    “Simon is an absolute genius, who is tremendous at dealing with cases of huge complexity.”

    “His analytical skills are incredible and his attention to detail is unmatched.”

    Chambers UK Bar 2024 – Commercial Dispute Resolution; Band 4

    “He is assiduous in every aspect of his drafting.”

    “Simon leaves no stone unturned; he thinks of every point.”

    Chambers UK Bar 2024 – Company; Band 3

    “Simon has an meticulous approach to preparation and a forensic advocacy style. His laser focus in court is popular with judges.”

    Legal 500 UK Bar 2024 – Agriculture; Tier 3

    “One of the brightest barristers at the Bar. Highly intelligent, meticulous in his attention to detail but always ready to give a rougher steer if required, a good advocate, and extremely easy to deal with.”

    Legal 500 UK Bar 2024 – Commercial Litigation; Tier 2

    “Simon leaves no stone unturned; his advocacy is calm yet assertive, and he wins the day through intellect and mastery of the detail.”

    Legal 500 UK Bar 2024 – Company & Partnerships; Tier 3

    “Very knowledgeable, unerringly accurate on the law, but with good tactical skills and a good advocate.”

    Legal 500 UK Bar 2024 – Fraud: Civil; Tier 2

    “Simon’s real strength is his meticulous attention to detail. With that skill, he immediately puts judges and clients at ease and unnerves opponents. He is also a real delight to work with – always cheerful and understanding of the demands on the team.”

    Legal 500 UK Bar 2024 – Property Litigation; Tier 5

    “Extremely knowledgeable and hard-working, he is an expert on issues relating to protectors and offshore trusts.”

    Legal 500 Caribbean Guide 2023 – The English Bar Offshore; Tier 2

    “His clear and focused style wins him the attention and confidence of the court.”

    Legal 500 UK Bar 2023 – Agriculture; Tier 4

    “His advocacy is extremely good. He is always very thoroughly prepared and has a very strong sense of the way arguments should be pitched to appeal to the judge”

    Legal 500 UK Bar 2023 – Commercial Litigation; Tier 2

    “Simon leaves no stone unturned; his advocacy is calm yet assertive, and he wins the day through intellect and mastery of the detail.”

    Legal 500 UK Bar 2023 – Company & Partnerships; Tier 3

    “He is always very thoroughly prepared and has a very strong sense of the way arguments should be pitched to appeal to the judge. He can make absolute mincemeat of silks in freezing injunction applications.”

    Legal 500 UK Bar 2023 – Fraud: Civil; Tier 3

    “Fearless in court, and unafraid of making difficult decisions.”

    Legal 500 UK Bar 2023 – Property; Tier 5

    “Simon is a formidable senior junior whose attention to detail, strategic thinking and turnaround times are outstanding.”

    “He is exceptionally clever and highly analytical.” “Simon is simply an all-round excellent barrister.”

    Chambers UK Bar & Global 2023 – Chancery: Commercial; Band 3

    “He is very highly regarded by our team for his attention to detail, his intellect, his drafting and his ease with clients.”

    “He is supersonically clever.” “He always provides clear advice, is very thorough, and is very user-friendly.”

    Chambers UK Bar & Global 2023 – Chancery: Commercial; Band 3

    “Simon is a formidable senior junior, whose attention to detail, strategic thinking and turnaround times are outstanding.”

    “He is exceptionally clever and highly analytical.” “Simon is simply an all-round excellent barrister.”

    Chambers UK Bar 2023 – Commercial Dispute Resolution; Band 6

    “Exceptionally clever and superbly analytic, he picks up on any small detail in your case.” “An all-round excellent barrister.”

    Chambers UK Bar 2023 – Company; Band 3

    “He is absolutely brilliant. Literally nothing escapes him in terms of the issues in the case, and he has full mastery of all the details.”

    “Ferociously intellectual, very detailed and highly methodical. He leaves no stone unturned.”

    Chambers UK Bar 2022

    “He is incredibly bright and an absolute go-to barrister for anything that is horrendously complicated.”

    “Incredibly professional, polite and perceptive, highly intelligent and is able to untangle complex conundrums.”

    Legal 500 UK Bar 2021

    “The quality of his written work is outstanding and he’s meticulous in his attention to detail. He delivers clear advice and robust advocacy time and time again.”

    Chambers Global 2020

    “He is phenomenally bright, and thorough and detailed in his approach.”

    Chambers UK Bar 2020 – Company

    “… pleasant and responsive manner. He’s good with clients in conferences and is able to explain complicated matters in language they understand.”

    Chambers UK Bar 2020 – Chancery Commercial 

    “Exceptionally well organised and completely on top of the detail. He really drills down into a case and is on top of every point.”

    Chambers Global 2020 – Commercial Chancery Dispute Resolution

    “He has an exceptional ability to grasp and elucidate the principles at the heart of any issue.”

    Legal 500 UK Bar 2020 – Company

    “a mighty intellect and brings piercing analysis and meticulous attention to detail to his work.”

    Legal 500 UK Bar 2019

    “enjoys a stellar practice.”

    Chambers Global 2019

    “his mastery of complex factual background is hugely impressive.”

    Legal 500 UK Bar 2019

    “a major boost to any legal team.”

    Chambers UK Bar 2019

    “Very, very personable, extremely astute and highly intelligent.”

    Chambers UK Bar 2018 – Commercial Dispute Resolution

    “He is technically superb and the quality of his written work is excellent.”

    Chambers UK Bar & Chambers Global 2017 – Chancery Commercial

    “He has an easy and persuasive advocacy style; solicitors wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him.”

    Legal 500 UK Bar 2017 – Commercial Litigation

    “He has a keen analytical mind, is commercial and is very good at advising on tactics.”

    Chambers UK Bar 2017 – Company

    “His legal analysis is of the highest quality and he is a pleasure to work with.”

    Legal 500 UK Bar 2016 – Commercial Litigation

    “He is extremely intelligent and takes a very thorough and cerebral approach. He is completely on top of the detail.” “No question is too complex for him.”

    Chambers UK Bar 2016 – Commercial Dispute Resolution

    “His legal analysis is of the highest quality and he turns work around in tight timeframes.”

    Legal 500 2016 — Company

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