Simon Elcock

Practice Areas

Corporate & Commercial Disputes, Banking Disputes, Debt & Leasehold Recovery, Professional Negligence

Career

Head of Dispute Resolution and expert in resolving complex and high value corporate and commercial disputes with a focus on the financial sector.

Simon is a Partner and the Head of Dispute Resolution, which also includes the firm’s Debt Recovery, Insolvency and Personal Injury practices.

Simon has an established practice and significant following. He is known for dealing with large scale, complex corporate and commercial disputes with particular expertise in the insurance and banking sectors.

He regularly advises on matters involving breach of contract and breach of duty, professional negligence, director, shareholder and partnership disputes, defamation, as well as commercial and corporate fraud and judicial review.

Recognised as one of the foremost litigation lawyers in the South of England, Simon is recommended in Chambers and Partners UK, with sources praising his "pragmatism and flexibility," and noting his "sensible and commercial approach." He also receives commendation in Legal 500 2022, with the remark: "Simon Elcock is very calm under pressure, confident and authoritative in his advice. Clients respect him and his initial judgement on a case is rarely wrong."

His private sector clients include some of the UK's leading banks, such as The Royal Bank of Scotland Plc, along with other notable firms including Real Estate Advisory & Property Management UK Ltd (formerly Strutt & Parker LLP), and BDO LLP. His public sector clients comprise several universities and unitary authorities.

Simon is an Accredited Mediator with the Centre for Dispute Resolution (CEDR) and is a proponent of all recognised forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

Having qualified as a solicitor in 1997, Simon trained with the firm following an early career in the hospitality industry. He became a Partner in July 2001.

Professional Memberships

Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution – Accredited Mediator

Work Highlights

Acting for a retired TUI Airlines pilot in a judicial review brought against the Civil Aviation Authority regarding his forced retirement on grounds of age. The case was widely reported in the media.

Acting for a major international bank in a dispute with a high profile individual in the arts world in relation to an alleged fraud worth up to £85M.

Defending claims brought against well known educational establishments and public sector bodies involving issues around alleged breach of duty, discrimination and defamation.

Acting both for and against insurance companies in a wide range of claims, often in relation to the enforcement of policy terms.