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Simon Myerson QC
Practice
Overview
Simon has a wide-ranging practice covering crime, civil and regulatory work. 33 years’ experience has taught him that working as a team with the client and Instructing Solicitor is critical.Recent instructions include the Kenyan Emergency Group Litigation (the Mau Mau litigation), which has occupied over 226 court days since 2016.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
Civil Law
Defamation and Harassment.
Since taking Silk Simon has been instructed on a regular basis in defamation and harassment work, including interim relief and advice on whether to litigate. Simon acts for companies, individuals and organisations. Sample cases include:
Levi v Bates [2009] EWHC 1495 (defamation) and Levi v Bates [2015] EWCA 206 (Harassment);
Ontulmus v Collett[2013] EWHC 980 (pleading defamation);
Weston v Bates [2015] EWHC 3432 (striking out);
Irving v Derbyshire [2013] EWHC 2301 (Conflict of Laws),
Law Society v and Operation Hyssonin which Simon, with Hannah Lynch, acted for North Yorkshire Police against a series of individuals who had used the complaints system to harass individual officers with whose professional judgements they disagreed, and achieved summary judgements and settlements saving substantial amounts of public money.
Administrative Law
Simon is experienced in administrative law, particularly as it relates to criminal work. He has experience in judicial review of private prosecutions (Hillsborough and Kay), confiscation Grynhaus v Manchester Magistrates Court [2017] EWHC 2161), and rates work (PSCT v Milton Keynes Council [2013] EWHC 1237).
Commercial Dispute Resolution
Simon is regularly instructed in all areas of commercial law and professional negligence. For example, he is currently involved in professional negligence actions involving failure to advise properly on an insurance policy, and a failure to properly cleanse a substantial property of asbestos. He has just settled a case involving fake invoices for commercial goods. Simon acted for Tim Schools in the Axiom Fund litigation (JP SPC 4 v Schools [2013] EWHC 4156 and 4248), and for Mr Schools in the SDT.
He is experienced in litigation against banks, for example acting for a director whose bank alleged he had assumed personal liability for company borrowing (Barclays Bank v Morris [2012 EWHC 194).
Simon was successful in defending a claim for c £1m damages brought against a large company who took over a service contract from a smaller competitor. He has recently succeeded in obtaining damages for a building contractor whose partner failed to honour a contract to pay, asserting a mistake, and successfully defeated the partner’s appeal (Leslie v Farrer Construction Ltd [2016] EWCA Civ 1041.
Crime
Appellate Work:
Simon appears in the Court of Appeal regularly, in cases arising from his own work for the prosecution and the defence: R v Calvert &Ors [2016] EWCA Crim 890; R v Markham [2017] EWHC 2161, as well as in cases in which he has taken on the case after trial. The most recent such case involved a defence not put at trial with security implications. All hearings were in private and Simon worked with the Court to establish lines of enquiry which would result in information going straight to the Court due to PII concerns.
Confiscation.
Simon conducts confiscation hearings under all regimes. He has appealed confiscation orders, applied for Certificates of Inadequacy and drafted applications to the European Court of Human Rights. Simon was involved in the confiscation hearings following Anglo-American (advance fee fraud); Smart (land fraud) and Akhtar (Drug Trafficking). He has advised RART on how to approach various scenarios in the light of POCA 2002.
Homicide.
Simon has experience in all types of homicide: murder, manslaughter and prosecutions for causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable person under the Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act 2004. Simon prosecuted the first case in which the family of the murderer were charged under S5 DVCVA 2004 for allowing the death of a vulnerable adult – R v Khan & Others [2009] EWCA Crim 2.
Murder includes:
- Cases, including baby shaking turning on medical evidence (Gallagher)
- Serious pre-planned cases where the offender has been armed (Metcalfe)
- Attacks, using guns, on policemen (Roden& Others; Atkinson)
- Domestic Violence and cruelty (Khan).
- Gangland killing (Calvert &Ors)
- Murder by children (Markham).
Manslaughter includes:
- Unlawful act manslaughter (Carey & Others [2006] EWCA Crim 17);
- Gross negligence manslaughter (Hillsborough private prosecution)
- Corporate manslaughter (NCS)
- Manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility (R v Bell [2015] EWCA Crim 1426).
Other Homicide includes:
Sexual Offences. Largely rape including gang rape (client acquitted) and intercourse between friends which is then said to be rape (Liddle).
Private Prosecution
Simon has both defended in private prosecutions (Hillsborough) and prosecuted privately (R (Kay) v Leeds Magistrates Court [2018] EWHC 1233).
Fraud
Simon has been instructed in a large fraud (trial and appeal) throughout his career. These include:
- Charnley Davies (franchise fraud)
- Alan Paul (insurance fraud)
- Breaks and Huggan (broking fraud)
- Simply Elegant Group (fraud on the company)
- Anglo-American (advance-fee fraud)
- Smart (land fraud);
- Bowden (travel and aviation fraud)
- Graham (tax fraud)
- Spokes (money laundering)
- Routledge (MTEC)
- Gittins (Charity fraud)
- Morgan (solicitor fraud on clients)
Regulatory
Professional Discipline
Simon is instructed in discipline cases concerning Solicitors, Barristers, the Police (including the Cross-Border case), the Fire Service, Probation Service and Customs and Excise. He is experienced in judicial review proceedings arising from disciplinary proceedings (Law Society v Waddingham[2012] EWHC 1519: R (Ashton & Fraser) v CC West Yorkshire [2005] EWHC 975).
He is instructed in the disciplinary proceedings arising from administration of the COPD scheme for miners. He drafts professional guidance for accountants and barristers. he also acts for those wishing to make complaints. Simon acts for both doctors and patients in Hospital Trust investigations.
Health and Safety
All aspects including trading standards – Poundstretcher (unsafe clothing), Public Inquiries (Soham), and Inquests (Lightwater Valley). Simon has prosecuted and defended in Health and Safety criminal cases concerning many industries including Medley (asbestos); Mather and Jackson (fireworks and explosives); Butters (Lightwater Valley amusement park); Seiles (electricity); Henry Boot (roofing); Next (warehousing and fork lift trucks); Scurr (transportation of animals spreading foot and mouth); Totty (scaffolding); Wakefield (Hydraulic lifts), management of training at work (Next).
Marine
Simon regularly advises the Marine Maritime Organisation regarding its powers and obligations and is leading counsel in the prosecution of John West Plc for the allegedly illegal importation of over £27m of illegally caught tuna (Operation Iroko), having advised on the regulatory settlement reached with lesser offenders.
Simon is an astute business man. His experience in business has involved many different sectors and over the years he has managed many private clients who have faced prosecution for compliance breach. These generally include Health and Safety and Trading Standards breaches.
Public and Departmental Inquiries.
Simon acted for the Humberside Police Federation in the Bichard Inquiry (Soham murders) and advised the officers in the IPCC Inquiry into the death of Christopher Alder. He also act for groups and individuals who do not necessarily require representation during the Inquiry itself (or are not allowed it) but need to make representations prior to the Report being published. He also advises local government departments and agencies into the scope of and terms of local inquiries into, for example, offences committed whilst being the subject of a Community Order
Professional Endorsements
The Legal 500
2019 ‘An intellectual heavyweight.’
2017 “A highly intelligent advocate … a key name for commercial matters, particularly civil fraud cases”
2015 “A class act”
2014“Is recognised for his expertise in commercial cases and a range of other civil matters”
2013 “Is exceptionally bright and an outstanding advocate’”
2012 “Has a heavyweight commercial litigation practice”
2010 “Expertly mines the civil fraud/ professional negligence territory”.
2009 “.. bridges the commercial-civil fraud border with aplomb”.
Chambers UK
‘”A fantastic and cerebral advocate.. who is often involved in appellate work”.
Further Information
Simon is a Bencher of Middle Temple and a past member of its Education Committee. He is a past member of the BSB’s Conduct Committee and its Education and Training Sub-Committee. He is a qualified advocacy trainer who regularly trains students for Middle Temple and the NE Circuit, whose Education Committee he chairs.
Simon is married with 4 children. He has 2 dogs available to view on request (and sometimes not on request). In his spare time, he walks in the Alps and the UK and writes courses for the Hebrew University’s Melton Programme.
Blog
The Latest News and Cases From Simon Myerson QC
Follow our blog for further information on the latest news and cases from Simon Myerson QC, and all other members of our team.
Blog
The Latest News and Cases From Simon Myerson QC
Follow our blog for further information on the latest news and cases from Simon Myerson QC and all other members of our team.
1y ago
Gross Negligence Manslaughter Conviction QUASHED at the Court of Appeal
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL (CRIMINAL DIVISION) ON APPEAL FROM THE CROWN COURT AT MANCHESTER Yip J T20187098 Royal Courts …
Gross Negligence Manslaughter Conviction QUASHED at the Court of Appeal Read More »

1y ago
St Pauls Chambers Reduce Sentence for Britain’s Youngest Double Murderers
Kim Edwards and her boyfriend Lucas Markham murdered Edwards’s mother Elizabeth, 49, and her younger sister Katie, 13, at their …
St Pauls Chambers Reduce Sentence for Britain’s Youngest Double Murderers Read More »

1y ago
Everything You Need to Know About the Mau Mau Hearing
St Pauls barristers Simon Myerson QC, Bryan Cox QC, Andrew Haslam, Sophie Mitchell and Stephen Flint were involved in the …
Everything You Need to Know About the Mau Mau Hearing Read More »

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