Simon graduated from St. John's College, Oxford in summer 2000 with a First Class degree in Jurisprudence and having won the Littleton Chambers Award for Labour Law for gaining the highest mark in the Final Honour School examination in that subject.

Simon was called to the Bar in March 2004 and was offered tenancy at Littleton Chambers in July 2005 having successfully completed pupillage under the supervision of Gavin Mansfield, David Reade and Michael Duggan.

Prior to commencing practice at the Bar, Simon spent a year researching under the supervision of Professor Hugh Beale Q.C. at the Law Commission for England and Wales. During this period Simon wrote a number of papers considering the effect that the illegality doctrine has on employment rights including those rights found in the Employment Rights Act 1996 and the various discrimination statutes.

Profile

Employment

Simon specialises in employment and discrimination law and regularly undertakes both tribunal and appellate work in this field. Simon's experience includes cases dealing with unfair and wrongful dismissal, all aspects of discrimination, whistle blowing, TUPE, wages and contractual disputes (including bonus disputes) and disputes regarding confidential information and restrictive covenants. In addition, Simon regularly advises on the above areas and drafts documents such as pleadings, compromise agreements and aspects of employer handbooks.

Recently, Simon has acted as junior to Jeffrey Bacon in the Court of Appeal in Diana Woodward v. Abbey National [2006] EWCA Civ. 822 in which it was determined that whistle blowers can pursue claims under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 where the relevant detriment has been occasioned after the termination of the contract of employment. In addition, as a pupil, Simon assisted John Bowers QC in the EAT in Redfearn v. Serco [2005] IRLR 744 where a member of the BNP sought to bring a claim for race discrimination alleging that his dismissal was on "racial grounds".

Commercial

Simon has a broad practice in commercial law. He regularly appears in the county courts dealing with all stages of litigation including interlocutory applications and trials and has recently been involved in cases dealing with breach of contract, misrepresentation, economic duress, debt as well as procedural issues arising during the course of litigation. Simon has appeared a number of times in the bankruptcy court and has advised on a number of insolvency related disputes. In addition, Simon regularly assists senior members of chambers with aspects of commercial disputes.

Simon accepts instructions in all of Chambers main areas of expertise and regularly appears in courts and tribunals throughout England and Wales.

Publications and Lecturing

Simon is a part-time tutor in labour law at a number of colleges in the University of Oxford and writes widely on employment law issues. Recent publications include:

- Illegally Formed Contracts of Employment and Equal Treatment at Work (2005) 34 Industrial Law Journal, 158 - 177 (with Marcus Pilgerstorfer)

- Contributor to Blackstone's Employment Practice 2006 (edited by John Bowers QC, Damian Brown, Gavin Mansfield)

- Contributor to Discrimination Law for Employment Lawyers (edited by Katherine Tucker and Sarah George)

Simon lectures and takes part in seminars dealing with employment law issues in-house for solicitors on a regular basis.

Professional Associations

Employment Law Bar Association
Employment Lawyers Association
Industrial Law Society
Chambers member of COMBAR
Free Representation Unit