The Legal 500

Within Crime, Simons Muirhead & Burton is a second tier firm,

Simons Muirhead & Burton has a varied and unusual practice, led by the vastly experienced Anthony Burton. The firm has extensive experience acting as Privy Council Agents, and specialises in appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Burton also acts for high-profile clients in the entertainment industry.

Within Fraud: white-collar crime , tier 4

Simons Muirhead & Burton regularly acts for professionals including solicitors and accountants. Anthony Burton is currently representing a solicitor in an SRA matter relating to money laundering.

Within Commercial litigation Commercial litigation

Within Defamation and privacy, Simons Muirhead & Burton is a second tier firm,

The ‘fantastic’ team at Simons Muirhead & Burton provides pre-publication advice to a number of major book and magazine publishers including Time Out, Random House and Orion Publishing, and acts for a growing number of film companies. It has also handled a number of high-profile libel instructions (both claimant and defendant), recently successfully representing the claimant in an action against Slough Borough Council after the claimant was wrongly placed on its Violent Persons Register. Team head Razi Mireskandari is a ‘brilliant lawyer’; Louis Charalambous is ‘first rate’; Martin Soames is ‘extremely knowledgeable’; and Stephen Shotnes is ‘excellent’. The firm also benefits from the expertise of in-house barrister Lucy Moorman.

Within Employment, tier 7

Simons Muirhead & Burton receives instructions from a wide range of household names, and in 2010 took a working time claim to the Court of Appeal. Makbool Javaid is ‘an exceptional lawyer with an eye for business needs’; and Ewan Keen is ‘extremely efficient, engaging and practical’.

Within Immigration,

Also notable for their work in the area of immigration are: Clifford Chance; Davenport Lyons; Dundas & Wilson LLP; Eversheds LLP; Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP; Macfarlanes LLP; Paragon Law; Pinsent Masons LLP; RadcliffesLeBrasseur; Russell-Cooke LLP; Simons Muirhead & Burton; Steeles Law LLP; Travers Smith LLP; and Watson, Farley & Williams LLP.

Within Civil liberties and human rights, tier 4

Simons Muirhead & Burton is active in media cases that involve human rights issues, and in cases of contempt of public law, defamation, and breach of confidence. Litigator Louis Charalambous is recommended. The firm lost Shahram Taghavi to Bates Wells & Braithwaite London LLP in 2010.

Within Brand management, tier 4

Simons Muirhead & Burton recruited Maninder Gill from Harvey Nichols and Charles Law from WGS. Clients include Ten Alps and Publicis, and in 2010 the team also advised Dennis Publishing’s Poker Player magazine/website on its sponsorship arrangements with Gala Coral Group.

Within Franchising, Simons Muirhead & Burton is a second tier firm,

Simons Muirhead & Burton recruited Maninder Gill from Harvey Nichols to lead its retail group, and Charles Law from WGS, who undertakes franchising work for restaurant chains and a vehicle rental company.

Within Media and entertainment, Simons Muirhead & Burton is a second tier firm,

Simons Muirhead & Burton’s busy practice spans film, TV, music and publishing. It boasts key clients such as the BBC, Channel Five, Faber & Faber, and Carbon Music. In 2010, the film and television team advised Publicis on broadcasting issues relating to Renault TV. It also advises production companies on financing, production and distribution; Razwana Akram and James Greenslade recently advised 4321 Limited and Pinewood Studios on the release of 4321, and Greenslade and Simon Goldberg advised the producers of Age of Heroes. Charles Law has a music practice representing clients including Serious Music and Fuel Management LLC. Martin Soames advised Random House on publishing Tony Blair’s autobiography, and Orion Publishing in relation to Keith Richards’ autobiography, Life.