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
BiographyA 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
CasesMURDER
R v Amriz Iqbal – Bradford Crown Court (Joint Enterprise Murder [by stabbing])
R v Tahir Mahmood – Bradford Crown Court (“Honour killing” – Defendant acquitted)
R v Lambe – Sheffield Crown Court (Arson of a house – Defendant acquitted)
R v Allah Yaar – Bradford Crown Court (“Honour killing” – Defendant acquitted)
R v Thompson and Others – Sheffield Crown Court (“Drive by shooting” – Defendant acquitted)
FRAUD
R v Singh and Other – Teesside Crown Court (ILA Educational Grant Fraud Fraud)
R v Buffery and Ors – Leeds Crown Court (Firm of pension advisers accused of the theft of £3m of private client monies. This was the first prosecution bought by the SFO on Circuit)
R v Gunawardena – Leeds Crown Court [reported] (Case involving fraud and corruption in the Leeds NHS)
R v Otter – Leeds Crown Court (Fraudulent trading)
R v Jackson – Leeds Crown Court (Involved two senior police officers involved in the investigation of P.C. Corley)
R v Hillier – Leeds Crown Court (Reputedly the most celebrated sole FSA accused of the theft of about £5m of private client monies)
R v Akrill and Ors – Leeds Crown Court (Case brought by the SFO)
R v Klineberg – Leeds Crown Court (Timeshare fraud)
R v Boid – Hull Crown Court (Involved the wholesale distribution of unfit meat into the human food chain)
R v Whitefield - Leeds Crown Court (Doctor accused of forging over one million prescription forms)
R v Smart – Leeds Crown Court (Land development grant fraud)
R v Mitchell & Others – Leeds Crown Court (Largest case ever transferred by the SFO [Jan-June 2004])
R v Woodhead & Others – Leeds Crown Court (SFO prosecution involving large-scale theft from companies)
R v Newton & Walker
As a junior he was, in the main, involved in fraud trials. Prosecuted for CPS Headquarters Fraud and Bankruptcy Division on cases including:
R v Buono [reported] (Fraudulent trading of a furniture company)
R v Scott and Ors – Liverpool Crown Court (A firm of management consultants "bumping" companies)
R v Redmond – Leeds Crown Court (Leeds Council official accused of corruption)
R v Edgar – Liverpool Crown Court (Well publicised case involving a London based liquidator involved in the fraudulent trading of the companies of which he was the liquidator)
R v Jordan – Birmingham Crown Court (Sheffield based solicitor accused of the theft of client monies)
R v Hedworth – Doncaster Crown Court (Prosecuting for CPSHQ (York) solicitor charged with theft)
POLICE
As a junior, prosecuted and defended in a number of cases involving police officers including, most notably, R v Jackson (Manchester police officer in charge of the prosecution of P.C. Corley), and two years advising in the case of Lundy (a Chief
Superintendent from the Metropolitan Police), the enquiry being made by South Yorkshire Police).
HOMICIDE
Both as a junior and in silk, Mr Bourne-Arton has been instructed in a large number of homicide cases including cases of constructive manslaughter. He has particular expertise in respect of homicidal joint enterprise appearing in the Court of Appeal cases of R v Mitchell and King and R v Khan and Akram & Others. Mr Bourne-Arton often defends in cases in which there are either mental illness or medical issues. As a junior, he defended on behalf of British Rail in two fatal rail accidents.
OTHER
R v Mirzabegi – Leeds Crown Court (Largest MOT/VOSA prosecution)