Personal Injury

Simon has handled a wide variety of personal injury matters, including slipping and tripping claims, claims arising out of Road Traffic Accidents, accidents in the workplace and occupiers liability cases.

Simon has handled pleadings, preliminary applications and case management conferences in a number of fraudulent claims cases. These have included issues related to occupancy, exaggerated injury and staged accidents as well as a 2 day multi-track case with allegedly fraudulent documents.

These cases have included Fast Track trials, with contested liability as well as advice on Quantum and disposals. He has also given advice in Multi Track cases where appropriate.

Coroner’s Inquests

Simon has handled a number of Coroner’s inquest cases, including multi-day inquests. A recent inquest was referred back to the CPS for reconsideration of Manslaughter charges.

Credit Hire and Consumer Credit Act cases

Simon also regularly appears in the small claims court on credit hire agreements and enforceability and handles cases involving credit loan agreements. This work has included giving written advices and pleadings, hearings to set aside and dealing with case management and directions hearings.

Significant cases Simon was involved with during Pupillage

Sanderson v Hull [2009] EWCA Civ 1211

Appeal concerning the extent to which the “Fairchild” exception to the “but for” rule of causation could be applied to a case where it was found to be only difficult to prove causation on that basis, rather than impossible.

Cunningham v AST Express & ANR [2009] EWCA Civ 767

Appeal concerning the proper interpretation of an offer to settle made before the 2007 amendments to Part 36 of the Civil Procedure Rules, and further as to the exercise of judicial discretion as to costs when dealing with a “greatly exaggerated” claim.

Travel Law

Simon has a particular interest in claims involving challenges to the jurisdiction of the English courts whether pursuant to the Brussels I Regulation or the common law rules. He has been involved in cases involving the application of the choice of law rules under the Rome II Regulation, a topic on which he has provided training and lectures, and under the Private International Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1995. Many of these cases have arisen out of road traffic accidents, requiring consideration of the European Motor Directives. He has conducted hearings in the English County Courts applying the law of other EU Member States.

Further, Simon has experience of cases brought under the Athens, Warsaw and Montreal Conventions, including those related to food poisoning aboard cruise ships. He has also been involved in cases brought under the Package Tour Regulations.

Public/Administrative Law

Simon drafted an advice in preparation of a JR on grounds for public funding on a family matter. As a result of the advice funding was granted and the JR was avoided.

He also has an interest in Education law related public law and judicial reviews.