Simon Smith > 15NBS > London, England > Barrister Profile

Simon Smith

Position

Simon is a senior criminal law specialist with over 33 years of experience accrued in cases which encompass the full spectrum of criminal law.

His practice is principally based in criminal defence with the emphasis upon cases of a complex nature. Simon’s work includes fraud, murder, drug conspiracies and organised crime where he regularly appears as a leading junior as well as appearing alone. He has represented clients prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office, HM Revenue and Customs, NCIS and the Specialist Crime Directorate.

 

 

Career

Simon practices mainly in the Crown Courts in Central London, but in addition Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire where Simon has enjoyed a long professional association and where he is well acquainted with both the judiciary and court staff.

Simon’s aptitude in preparing cases requiring an understanding of voluminous and complex case material is renowned as is his technical and scientific prowess. Simon has been commended on numerous occasions for his preparation and analytical presentation of cases involving difficult legal issues and he enjoys the challenge that novel issues of fact and law present.

NOTABLE CASES 

VINCENT STAPLETON – Kingston Crown Court – Acquittal of a defendant charged with being the principal offender (not simply a courier) involved in the moving of 3Kg of cocaine from Manchester to London against a background of several years covert observations by SOCA and analysis of telephone downloads and cell-site evidence.

RHIANNA PILE – Cambridge Crown Court – Acquittal of a defendant accused of facilitating the armed robbery of her employer. The two co-accused were convicted.

LEON SMITH – Woolwich Crown Court
The only defendant to be unanimously acquitted on all Counts of £1m jewellery robbery conspiracy
http://www.tottenhamjournal.co.uk/news/muswell_hill_man_in_finsbury_park_gem_theft_torture_gang_1_884083?ot=archant.PrintFriendlyPageLayout.ot

LIAM PALMER – Central Criminal Court –  Murder reduced to manslaughter.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3535169/Teen-rapper-killed-rival-over-song-lyrics-on-internet.html

FRANT ASANTE – Kingston Crown Court- Defendant involved in arranging shipments of Cocaine into Heathrow and avoiding Customs by using a dishonest baggage handler who later turned “supergrass”

DENNIS XHELILI  – Wood Green Crown CourtShooting outside the Lordship Public House, N22 – acquitted

RICKY ENGLAND – Luton Crown Court – Conspiracy involving theft of high value cars in burglaries and the subsequent exportation to Eastern Europe.

EAMON THORNTON – St Albans Crown Court-  Environment Agency prosecution – charge reduced.

SAMI TESTOURI – St Albans Crown Court – Drug related extreme violence. Defendant acquitted of all charges. Alleged to be the organiser of a campaign of violence in respect of a drugs debt

CLIFFORD NICHOLSON – Luton Crown Court – Late change of plea to murder

KEITH MONTAGUE – St Albans Crown Court – A sad case involving a defendant with mental health problems

KRYSTAIN MAJEWSKI – Central Criminal Court  – Murder reduced to manslaughter

YILAY TUFANSOY – St Albans Crown Court – Assisting offenders arising out of a triple murder

GHOLAMEREZA MOSLEMAZAR – Snaresbrook Crown Court  – Allegation of money laundering of large sums of cash – not guilty verdicts eventually entered. Defence involved consideration of the hawala banking system

ANDREW GRIFFITHS & OTHERS – St Albans Crown Court – High value fraud involving en primeur wine sales. Not guilty verdict on all counts

Memberships

Simon is a member of the South Eastern Circuit, the Criminal Bar Association, the Herts and Beds Bar Mess and the Old Bailey Bar Mess and he is also a member of the Bar of Ireland.Simon is accredited by the Bar Council to provide Public Access services.