Fountain Court congratulates Simon Atrill on his appointment to King’s Counsel in the New Year, announced by the Lord Chancellor today. The appointment ceremony will take place on 27 March 2023.
Simon was called to the Bar in 2005 and is described in the legal directories as “an absolute star”, as well as a “phenomenal” and “remarkable” advocate. He is ranked for his work in banking and finance, commercial disputes and civil fraud and was named ‘Banking Junior of the Year’ at the Chambers Bar Awards in 2019 – an award he was shortlisted for four times – and a “Star of the Bar” by Legal Week.
He has been involved in some of the largest, most high-profile and complex disputes in recent years, including in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and various High Court divisions. Examples of his work include acting in the Supreme Court for Ukraine in defence of a claim for more than $3 billion, brought by Law Debenture on behalf of the Russian Federation, arising from a Eurobond issue; acting for a high net worth individual in two successful claims, including in the Court of Appeal, in the high-profile Group Seven litigation; and acting for a major pharmaceutical company in the largest ever claim for damages on a cross-undertaking under a wrongly granted injunction for patent infringement. Other notable instructions include representing Goldman Sachs in the largest claim for alleged foreign exchange manipulation in the English Courts and acting for war risk insurers in a $3 billion claim arising from the alleged misappropriation of more than 100 aircraft by lessees in Russia.
Head of Chambers Bankim Thanki KC said of Simon’s appointment:
“Simon’s elevation to the rank of King’s Counsel is richly deserved and a source of great pride, having worked closely with him for many years and having seen his superb ability at close hand in some of the most complex cases imaginable. I have every confidence that he will be just as successful in silk as he has been in his stellar junior practice.”