Simon worked in Reed Smith’s London office before joining the Singapore office as a partner, following a period on secondment at a client in Singapore. Simon mainly advises trading companies, energy and natural resources companies and investment banks which trade commodities.
Simon is recognised as a Rising Star by the 2013 London Super Lawyers List for Energy & Natural Resources.
Simon’s practice involves both handling disputes and non-contentious work in relation to the trading, transporting and financing of a wide range of both hard and soft commodities.
On the disputes side, Simon often deals with “firefighting” of urgent, live issues with the aim of resolving potential disputes at an early stage. He has also acted in London High Court litigation and in arbitrations including in the LCIA, LMAA, ICC, GAFTA, FOSFA, RSA, SAL and ad hoc.
On the non-contentious side, Simon often advises on legal issues arising in new business lines and transactions. He also drafts and reviews commodities trading contracts, standard terms and conditions, term offtake and supply contracts, commodities storage agreements and other documentation related to the trading of numerous commodities. Commodities in relation to which Simon has experience of advising include oil, coal, metals, LNG, grains, soyabeans, rice, sugar, palm oil, biofuels and petrochemicals.
Simon has spent three periods on client secondments at two different major international trading companies, based in London and Geneva and an investment bank in Singapore. His in-house experience means he has advised on a very broad range of issues in commodities trading and is well placed to understand and respond to clients' needs.
Simon is qualified as a lawyer in England and Wales.