Simon Atrill KC > Fountain Court Chambers > London, England > Barrister Profile
Fountain Court Chambers Offices
FOUNTAIN COURT, TEMPLE
LONDON
EC4Y 9DH
England
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Simon Atrill KC
Position
Civil and commercial litigation including banking, financial services, insurance/reinsurance, civil fraud, pharmaceuticals and professional negligence. Recent cases: Russian aircraft insurance claims (for war risk insurers); Law Debenture v Ukraine (first instance, CA and Supreme Court); Times Travel (SC, economic duress); Madison Pacific v PrivatBank (Notes, illegality); Blue v Mike Ashley [2017] EWHC 1928 (Comm) (oral agreement); Group Seven v Nasir (first instance and CA: fraud); NBT v Yurov (fraud); Marme v RBS (misrepresentation); BTA Bank v Ablyazov; OFT v Abbey National (bank charges) [2010] 1 A.C. 696); Group Seven v Sultana [2014] 1 W.L.R. 735 (freezing injunctions), [2014] EWHC 2046 (Ch) (trial) and [2015] EWCA Civ 631; BAT v Windward [2014] 2 All ER (Comm) 757; interest rate swaps and PPI litigation; IBC v MAR [2010] 1 All ER (Comm) 112; ICB v Akingbola; various cases in Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and Trinidad and Tobago.
Career
Supervisor, conflict of laws and administrative law at the University of Cambridge 2004-05. Called 2005; Silk 2023.
Publications include Legal Privilege and Mandatory Disclosure under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 [2005] LMCLQ; “Choice of Law in Contract” (2004) ICLQ; several in Cambridge Law Journal.
Languages
working knowledge of French and Spanish.
Memberships
COMBAR.
Education
St Catharine’s College, Cambridge (2002 BA Law Double First); St John’s College, Oxford (2003 BCL Distinction); University of Pennsylvania, USA (LLM magna cum laude).
Leisure
Skiing, travel.
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Crypto and blockchain assets
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2Simon Atrill KC – Fountain Court Chambers ‘Simon’s analytical abilities are superb. His advice is always practical and commercial.’
A ‘go to set’ for cryptocurrency and blockchain assets, Fountain Court Chambers include members who work with leading UK and international financial institutions on the legal aspects of financial technology, digital banking and cryptocurrency. Members of Chambers advise on a full range of existing legislation such as data protection, cybersecurity and anti-money laundering, alongside smart contracts and crypto bridges. Christopher Langley is involved in cryptocurrency disputes, and has acted for leading exchanges and NFT projects on contractual and regulatory matters. Nik Yeo and Simon Atrill KC both have expertise in litigation involving exchanges.
London Bar > Fraud: civil
(2023 Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Simon Atrill KC –Fountain Court Chambers ‘Simon is a brilliant advocate with excellent judgement, and an elegant turn of phrase in writing and in court.’
‘Obviously one of the top sets in the market in this area‘, Fountain Court Chambers‘ members are routinely instructed in high-stakes civil fraud cases, both in the UK and overseas. Recent workloads encompass banking and finance sector disputes, as well as cases with international elements. Africa-related civil fraud work is a notable growth area for the set, which is also particularly active in Asia, Middle East and Russia & CIS matters. In arguably one of the largest fraud claims of 2022, Rosalind Phelps KC acted for the defendant in the high-profile Republic of Nigeria v JP Morgan, which involved a $870m claim that concerned an allegedly corrupt oil deal and issues of the Quincecare duty. March 2023-appointed silk Simon Atrill KC, led by Timothy Howe KC, represented Credit Suisse in a substantial claim involving bribery and undue influence allegations, in relation to Libya’s placement of substantial investments with Western banks. Aaron Taylor, Nicolas Damnjanovic and Samuel Rabinowitz are notable juniors in chambers.
London Bar > Banking and finance (including consumer credit)
(2023 Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Simon Atrill KC –Fountain Court Chambers ‘A thoroughly deserved new silk appointment.’
London Bar > Commercial litigation
(2023 Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Sought out to appear in heavyweight Commercial Court, Financial List and Chancery Division cases, Fountain Court Chambers is ‘a top-flight set for commercial work, with excellent silk and junior coverage‘. In Soteria Insurance (formerly CIS General Insurance) v IBM United Kingdom, which concerns a failed IT transformation project, Bankim Thanki KC successfully acted for Soteria in the Court of Appeal on a significant commercial contractual interpretation point. In Federal Republic of Nigeria v JP Morgan Chase, one of the Commercial Court’s largest cases of 2022, Rosalind Phelps KC, leading David Murray, successfully represented the defendant bank against the Nigerian Government’s $870m-plus claim under the Quincecare duty concerning the Malabu oil scandal. Elevated to silk in March 2023, Simon Atrill KC‘s recent track record includes representing a Saudi royal family member in HRH Prince Khaled Bin Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud v Gibbs, a $30m claim against a former Magic Circle firm partner for allegedly misappropriating investment funds.