Simon qualified as a solicitor in November 1998. Following post-qualification experience at Rollingsons and Browne Jacobson in London, he joined Watmores in June 2003. Simon was admitted to the Partnership in June 2005. He has experience in the wide range of work undertaken by the firm but, has particular expertise in defending public and private sector clients against employer’s liability and public liability claims. In the 2010 edition of the Chambers and Partners Guide to the Legal Profession, Simon is ranked as a leading lawyer in the field of personal injury.

PERSONAL INJURY / CASUALTY - DEFENDANT

This is Simon’s core practice area. He advises 8 of the 32 London local authorities in the defence of most conceivable EL and PL claims. In the public sector, as well as defending claims brought against NHS Trusts, Simon has advised local authority departments as diverse as social services, highways, housing, schools and refuse/recycling in the defence of personal injury claims. He also has experience in the following areas:-

• Catastrophic Injuries – including brain injury, para and tetraplegic.
• Fatal Accidents.
• Mesothelioma and other asbestos related claims.
• Disease claims including hand/arm vibration syndrome, noise induced hearing loss, dermatitis and latex allergy.
• Work-related stress, bullying and harassment claims including a number of claims arising under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and work place injuries including assault, manual handling, work-related upper limb disorder and slips and trips.

Simon does not limit his practice area to the public sector and also advises insurers, Lloyd’s Syndicates and loss adjusters on the defence of complex personal injury claims.

TOUR OPERATOR’S LIABILITY

Simon advises a Lloyd’s Syndicate which underwrites risks associated with claims for injury and breach of contract arising during package holidays. Simon has successfully defended a substantial number of such claims, involving such diverse factual circumstances as a serious injury sustained in a jacuzzi at a five star hotel in Goa, through to injuries caused by a disgruntled reindeer during a sleigh ride in Lapland.

INSURANCE / RE-INSURANCE

Simon advises a Lloyd’s Syndicate on a number of pure insurance matters. Over the past 12 months, Simon has offered advice in the following complex areas:-

• Material non-disclosure by policy holders.
• Indemnity issues.
• Breach of condition precedent and waiver.Limitation periods in complex re-insurance claims.
• The inter-play between primary and upper layer insurance policies, particularly where there is ambiguity over which policy makes continuing provision for costs.
• Invocation of discharge of liability clauses by primary layer insurers and, the practical consequences for upper layer insurers who wish to repudiate liability.

Simon has also drafted a protocol for a public sector client, designed to streamline indemnity claims against their contractor, in the event their contractor’s employees, servants or agents fail to discharge their duties with reasonable skill and care. It is anticipated the claims protocol will generate substantial costs savings for Simon’s client.

Contact: sjohnson@watmores.co.uk