Simon has experience in a wide variety of banking and finance transactions, including structured trade finance, trade finance, commodity finance, insurance-backed finance, project finance, invoice discounting facilities, warehouse finance, supply chain finance, ECA finance and borrowing-base facilities.

He has advised on transactions across Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the CIS. His work in the structured trade arena covers a range of financings acting for both lenders and borrowers notably in the oil, telecoms, soft commodities and metals sectors. He has particular experience in Africa and in the Middle East, where he was based for four years. Simon also acts for industry bodies including the International Trade and Forfaiting Association (ITFA).

Participating in structured trade finance and project finance conferences and seminars throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa, he has spoken at structured trade finance conferences and seminars and general finance in London, Paris, Lisbon, Geneva, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, South Africa, Zambia, Uganda, Ghana, Nairobi and Dubai, as well as on PPP in South Africa, on project finance and structured trade finance at Afrexim's annual structured finance conferences in Egypt, Ghana, Zambia and South Africa.

A member of ITFA’s Executive Board, in 2021 Simon was appointed its Head of Education. In November 2019, Simon was re-appointed as one of just eight full voting members on the African Regional Committee, of which he was also a founding member in 2017.

Simon is included in the list of Leading Individuals in the Legal 500 UK, 2023 for Trade finance and in Tier 2 by Chambers UK, 2022 for Commodities: Trade finance.

Bar & Court Admissions

  • Solicitor, Senior Courts of England and Wales

Education

  • The College of Law, CPE
  • University of Bristol, M.A., Ancient History 
  • University of Bristol, BA, (Hons) in Ancient History

Community Engagement

  • Head of Education, Executive Board, International Trade and Forfaiting Association (ITFA) (2021)
  • Voting Member, ITFA's African Regional Committee (2017)

Awards & Honors

  • Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom, Commodities (2020-2023)
  • Chambers UK, Commodities: Trade Finance (UK-wide) (2013-2022)
  • The Legal 500 UK, Trade Finance - London - "Leading Individual" (2015-2023)
  • Legal Media Group/Euromoney's ExpertGuides (2020)

Seminars & Presentations

Practices

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