Professional Experience
Simon is a civil practitioner, with an emphasis on property and commercial work, including landlord and tenant, housing, contested probate and Inheritance Act claims, rights of way, boundary disputes and building / construction claims. Simon has undertaken personal injury work since commencing practice at the bar which he complements with extensive experience of costs only work and credit hire. Simon is regularly instructed in the County Court, High Court, HM Land Registry Adjudicator, Leasehold Valuation Tribunal and appeared recently in the Court of Appeal (Perks v Perry [2011] EWCA Civ 445.)
Property/ Chancery
Simon has experience of a wide variety of property and chancery related matters including both the contentious and non contentious.
The bulk of Simon's property practice relates to commercial and residential landlord and tenant although a significant proportion relates to contested probate/ Inheritance Act matters and boundary disputes.
On the commercial lease front Simon has a particular interest in 1954 Act lease renewals and forfeiture. On the residential side Simon frequently deals with contested possession matters and particularly enjoys dealing with the perennial issues that arise on notices. Simon is developing his expertise in relation to enfranchisement and regularly deals with matters in the LVT.
Simon is often instructed in difficult Contested Probate and Inheritance Act matters in both the County Court and the High Court and has concurrent cases in the Chancery and Family Divisions. These cases often provide the most interesting and intellectually challenging work. Simon's clients are drawn from all over the Country and occasionally abroad, which provide some interesting jurisdictional issues.
Simon also has a great deal of experience of dealing with and defending TOLATA claims.
Housing/ Anti-social Behaviour
Simon is often instructed in Housing and Anti-Social Behaviour matters and has extensive and recent experience of contested matters in this area. He acts for both Registered Providers (Landlords) and Tenants. Simon is a member of the Social Housing Lawyers Association.
Commercial
Simon's commercial practice encompasses disputes over commercial transactions including sale of goods, interference with goods, building disputes, injunctive relief and partnership disputes.
Simon has an in depth knowledge and experience of commercial Guarantee Agreements and Undue Influence, having appeared as Counsel at first instance and on appeal in the recently reported Court of Appeal decision in Perks and Anor v Perry [2011] EWCA Civ 445.
Personal Injury/ Credit Hire
Simon's personal injury practice is longstanding and he acts for Claimants and Defendants in all manner of cases, dealing with both liability and quantum. Simon has a particular interest in gratuitous care claims. Simon is happy to advise and undertake other work under a conditional fee basis in appropriate cases.
Simon also has considerable experience in credit hire litigation and is on a number of panels for this work.
Simon has been at the forefront the recent RSA litigation, where he has acted exclusively for Defendants, in an advisory role and as advocate.
Costs Only Work
As Simon's practice encompasses a number of areas it means he is well placed to provide advice on costs only matters and funding where he maintains a keen interest. Simon often conducts detailed costs assessment on behalf of paying and receiving parties. Simon's cost only experience is inevitably used to great effect in the summary assessment procedure following trial or interim applications.
Planning
Simon is a member of the Planning Team in Chambers and has appeared at Inquiries on planning matters. This experience often assists in his property related work.
Mediation
Simon has been actively involved in mediation since coming to the Bar. Having qualified in 2006 with ADR Chambers (UK) Ltd, Simon is happy to conduct mediations in all of the areas in which he practices as Counsel. His experience as a mediator assists in his advisory work and often helps secure a favourable outcome for clients when the prospects of success are uncertain.
Simon has recent experience of mediating boundry disputes and personal injury matters.
Professional Memberships
Personal Injury Bar Association (PIBA)
Social Housing Lawyers Association (SHLA)
Western Circuit Chancery Bar Association
Western Circuit
Seminars
Simon is a regular contributor to Chambers' seminar programme and has provided a number of seminars including the following:
Adverse Possession
Unlawful Eviction Claims
Anti-Social Behaviour In House Training
Conditional Fee Agreements
Gratuitous Care in Personal Injury Claim
Public Access
Simon has undertaken public access work in appropriate cases since 2008, which is often referred to him by solicitors.
Outside Interests
Simon is a confident shot and also enjoys running, having completed 2 half marathons in recent years and has recently taken up cycling. Simon now enjoys watching rugby, rather than playing it, and divides his loyalties between the Exeter Chiefs and London Irish. Simon counts cooking, entertaining and decent coffee amongst his other interests.
Other Information
VAT registration number: 854 3675 01
LSC No: 757LU
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