Simon Bourne-Arton QC
Year of Call: 1974 Inner Temple
Year of Silk: 1994
Appointments: Panel of Queen’s Counsel for the Serious Fraud Office, Recorder, Leader of the Northeastern Circuit (2006)
Specialist Areas: Homicide, Large Drugs Related Offences, Sexual Offences, Serious Fraud & White Collar Crime, Regulatory & Compliance Work
Biography
A Queen’s Counsel since 1994, Mr Bourne-Arton is predominantly a criminal practitioner, both for the Crown and defence with areas of specialisation including:
White-collar fraud – has defended in a significant number of prosecutions brought by the SFO
Homicide – has defended in cases of homicidal joint enterprise
Drugs – has defended in a number of cases involving large-scale importation
Sexual offences – has defended in historic sexual abuse cases and paedophile ring conspiracies
Regulatory work – has prosecuted, as a junior, cases on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive and many cases for Trading Standards (West Yorkshire, Rotherham, Sheffield and York Councils). Defended British Rail (as it was then) in respect of a fatal rail crash at Leeds Station; Flamingo Park in respect of an accident on a “ride ” that caused serious injuries to 5 children; and a plane company charged with manslaughter in respect of the death of a sky-diver.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Listed in every edition of Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession as a Leader at the Bar, Simon is recommended in crime, specialising in commercial fraud.
Legal 500 2010-11 (Crime): "... specialise in complex fraud and white-collar crime".
Legal 500 2009-10 (Crime): "... specialise in fraud and heavyweight crime cases."
Legal 500 2008-09 (Crime): "... maintains a high profile."
Legal 500 2007-08 (Crime): "... remains on peak form."
Legal 500 2005 'for his financial fraud work, which yields an impressive acquittal rate'.
Chambers & Partners 2011 (Crime): is a "high quality performer" who both defends and prosecutes in the most serious criminal cases. "He is excellent with very difficult clients such as those with serious anger management problems."
Chambers & Partners 2010 (Crime): "has handled a number of murder trials, and gained a great reputation as an "outstanding criminal silk, whether prosecuting or defending". Cases involving sexual offences and drugs are also specialities, and of late he has also been embarking on white-collar fraud matters. He is "always reliable and very good with clients."
Chambers & Partners 2008 (Crime): "boasts an expertise in defending serious crime. Recently elected head of circuit, he is a 'polished performer' according to peers."
Chambers & Partners 2006: "always has an impact” and is renowned for his work defending clients facing major SFO prosecutions