Simon practises in professional negligence, personal injury (including product liability) and civil litigation in tort and contract disputes, and in specialist criminal and regulatory work in related fields (eg Health and Safety prosecutions, professional disciplinary and regulatory tribunals). He also acts in Coroner's Inquests and Inquiries, most recently in relation to the fatal shooting in 2005 of Jean Charles de Menezes at Stockwell tube station. His practice is based in London but is not restricted by location.
His early practice at the Bar was in the criminal courts, providing him with forensic advocacy experience much valued by subsequent clients.
In practice he acts for both claimants and defendants and has been cited continuously since 1997 in the principal professional directories (Chambers & Partners, The Legal 500) as a leading London junior in the area of Personal Injury. He is now similarly cited in the field of clinical negligence.
Clinical Negligence
Simon's practice in clinical negligence has in the past been largely (but not solely) for defendants, acting on behalf of the NHSLA in claims against NHS Trusts. He now undertakes work in this area predominantly on behalf of claimants. He is experienced in a broad range of medical conditions including cerebral palsy and claims relating to birth injuries, cardiac and pulmonary conditions, cancer treatment, systemic infection, MRSA and orthopaedic and neurosurgical intervention.
Personal Injury
Simon's practice in personal injury includes acting for many general insurers in employers, occupiers and public liability cases, travel related claims and cases involving areas such as educational negligence and workplace stress. He has acted in a substantial number of claims involving deliberate torts, e.g. alleged assaults by nightclub door staff on customers. He acts regularly in complex and high-value brain injury claims both for claimants and defendants. He is prepared to consider undertaking CFA work for claimants on a case-by-case basis.
Health and Safety
Simon is regularly instructed on behalf of insurers and directly by corporations to defend corporate and individual clients in criminal cases arising out of the Health and Safety regulatory regime. He appears frequently in the Crown Court to contest issues in relation to such prosecutions, and to mitigate sentence when necessary. His clients in this field include major national and international corporate entities, individual directors and managers, and smaller corporate concerns.
Product Liability
As part of his general insurance backed litigation practice, he is experienced in product liability claims. He advised and successfully represented the defendant in the group litigation scalding cases against McDonald's Restaurants (Bogle & Ors v McDonald's Restaurants Ltd).
Public & Regulatory Law
Simon acts on behalf of individual and institutional clients in relation to Inquests and Article 2 Inquiries under the Human Rights Convention. He also acts on behalf of various police forces in claims made against them including, for example, wrongful arrest, false imprisonment and other general claims, as well as employers liability related claims. He is currently acting on behalf of the IPCC in the Inquest into the death in 2005 of Jean Charles de Menezes at Stockwell tube station.
Commercial Law
Simon's practice in this field focuses on professional negligence. He regularly acts in solicitors' negligence claims, most frequently for defendants. He was regularly instructed by SIF and continues to act on behalf of open market professional indemnity insurers in relation to claims against solicitors. His experience in this field includes cases arising out of the jurisdiction (Northern Ireland and Jersey).
Key cases
Simon's early practice at the Bar was in the criminal courts, providing him with forensic advocacy experience much valued by subsequent clients. He has been involved in significant cases throughout his career including:
- For the IPCC in the inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes at Stockwell in 2005
- For the family in the inquest into the death of Heather Bell in Lincolnshire in 2004 (2-week hearing under Article 2 of the Human Rights Convention, involvement of low-flying RAF Chinook helicopter)
- Bogle & Ors v McDonald's Restaurants Ltd [2002] EWHC 490 (QB): Field J, product liability group action in respect of hot coffee/tea and the manner of their packaging for consumers
- Lowe v Guise [2002] EWCA Civ 1973; (2002) WLR 562: damages, personal injury
- Hone v Going Places Leisure Travel Ltd [2001] EWCA Civ 947; The Times, 6 August, 2001: tourism - operation of the Package Tour Regulations
- Boyce v. Wyatt Engineering & Ors [2001] EWCA Civ 692; Times, 14 June, 2001: civil procedure
- Berlevy v. Blyth Dutton (1997) EGCS 133 (CS): Court of Appeal; Solicitors' negligence
- Kelly v Bastible (1997) 8 Med. LR 15: clinical negligence, limitation
- Heer v Tutton (1995) 1 WLR 1336: County Court Rules
- Wood v Bentall Simplex (1992) PIQR 332: fatal accident - damages
- Halford v Brookes: The Times, 3 October 1991: civil damages for murder
Appointments
- Recorder (2002): now authorised to sit in the Crown and County Courts trying criminal, civil and private-law family cases
- F.C.I. Arb. (Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators)
Languages
-
Working knowledge of Spanish and French
Contact Simon King
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7242 3555
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7242 2511
Email: clerks@7br.co.uk