Simon Hattan

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Simon Hattan has a broad general commercial and chancery practice, with particular experience of litigation involving civil fraud and/or breach of trust / fiduciary duty, banking and finance disputes and trusts litigation.

He is regularly instructed in significant cases in these areas and is comfortable either as sole counsel or as part of a team. He was part of the team acting for the Defendants in the RBS Right issue litigation in the Chancery Division.

Before coming to the Bar, Simon spent a number of years in the financial markets, principally in fixed-income capital raising and derivatives, and is well accustomed to handling disputes involving complex financial issues.

Simon has consistently been recommended in the legal directories for many years as a leading junior in the fields of Banking and Finance, Commercial Dispute Resolution, Civil Fraud, and Commercial Chancery. Most recently, Chambers & Partners noted that “His understanding and advocacy skills are very much at KC level” and he was described in Legal 500 as “Simply one of the best: thorough, intelligent, able to see the bigger picture, and a real fighter.”

Areas of Expertise

Commercial Litigation

Recent Cases

Various Investors v Equiti Capital UK (ongoing) – Acting for the Claimants in claim for accessory liability arising from a fraudulent foreign exchange investment scheme. Trial listed for summer 2027.
X v Y (ongoing) – Acting for the Claimant in LCIA arbitration arising out of contract relating to the promotion of blockbuster exhibitions in Europe. Trial listed for November 2026.
Simon Bonney (as liquidator of NDL Ltd) v Lars Clausen and another (2024-2025) – Acting for the liquidators in claim against previous directors of property development company. Settled in 2025.
X v Y (2023-2024) – Acting for Defendant Jersey trustees in claim arising from the purchase of a substantial property in London.
Various Investors v RSA plc (2021-2022) – Acting for RSA in defence of claim by various shareholders under s,90A FSMA 2000 in which it was alleged that RSA published Annual Reports and other financial information containing untrue or misleading statements.
Noksel Celik A.S v Bemaco Steel Limited (2019-2023) – Acting for the Defendant / Counterclaimant in a multi-million pound claim arising out of a contract for the supply of steel piping.
Cossac Holdings Ltd v Preferred Management Ltd & Others (2019-2023) – Acting for the Claimant on an ‘unfair prejudice’ petition under s.994 of the Companies Act 2006.
Public Institute for Social Security v Multiple Defendants (2019-2023) – Acting for one of multiple defendants in very high value and complex proceedings involving allegations that to valuable banking relationships were tainted by the payment of secret commissions worth many millions. Client successfully challenged the court’s jurisdiction.
A v B (2019) – Acting (led by Dominic Dowley KC) for the Defendant in substantial arbitration involving allegations that valuable industrial contracts were obtained as a result of bribes paid by the Defendant’s agent.
X v Y (2019) – Acting for the Claimant in proceedings in the Civil & Commercial Court in the Qatar Financial Centre.
Toucan Energy & Others v Wirsol & Others (2019) – Acting (led by John McGhee KC) for the Claimants in a dispute arising out of the purchase of a portfolio of solar farms in 2017.
Terry v Watchstone (2018) – Acted for the company defending claims by previous owner and director in relation to sums said to be due under an indemnity granted by the company prior to its sale to the present owners.
RBS Rights Issue Litigation (Settled summer 2017) – Acting for RBS and the other Defendants in claims arising out of the £12 billion rights issue undertaken by RBS in 2008.
Alhamrani v Alhamrani (2013 & 2014) – Acting for the Claimant in successful appeals before the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal and the Privy Council.
Alhamrani v Alhamrani (2012) – Seven-week trial in the BVI Commercial Court concerning the ownership of BVI registered company.
Alhamrani v Alhamrani (2008/2009) – US$120 million claim for breach of trust and breach of fiduciary duty in the context of two large Jersey trusts. Settled in August 2009 after 8 months in trial.
Royal Bank of Scotland v Winterthur (2008) – Claim for breach of warranty and fraudulent misrepresentation arising out of the sale of Churchill Insurance. Settled during trial in 2008.
Financial Services Authority v Legal & General (2004) – Financial Services and Markets Tribunal proceedings relating to the mis-sale of mortage endowment policies. Culminated in six-week trial before the Tribunal in October 2004.
ABTA v Nardi (2004) – Litigation relating to the proceeds of an alleged fraud on ABTA by its former head of legal affairs.
Westminister City Council v Dame Shirley Porter (2004) – Instructed on behalf of the beneficiaries of a number of family trusts in proceedings in which it was alleged that the trusts were shams and/or that they were established with the intention of defrauding creditors.
Safe Harbor v Lloyds Band and others (2003) – Acted for two US investment companies in acillary proceedings in England for the purpose of locating and freezing assets misappropriated in an international investment fraud.
Philips & Others v Symes [2003] EWCA Civ 1769 – Appeal relating to evidence admissible on application for committal for contempt and recusal for the appearance of bias.

Banking & Financial Services

Recent Cases

Various Investors v Equiti Capital UK (ongoing) – Acting for the Claimants in claim for accessory liability arising from a fraudulent foreign exchange investment scheme. Trial listed for summer 2027.
Various Investors v RSA plc (2021-2022) – Acting for RSA in defence of claim by various shareholders under s,90A FSMA 2000 in which it was alleged that RSA published Annual Reports and other financial information containing untrue or misleading statements.
C v D (2019-2020) – Instructed in high value dispute in Singapore concerning attempts by lending bank to enforce under joint mortgage in relation to liabilities incurred from lending to unrelated companies.
X v Y (2019) – Acting for the Claimant in proceedings in the Civil & Commercial Court in the Qatar Financial Centre.
RBS Rights Issue litigation (settled Summer 2017) – Acting for RBS and the other Defendants in claims arising out of the £12 billion rights issue undertaken by RBS in 2008.
Madoff Fraud (2014-2016) – Acted in multi-jurisdictional proceedings arising out of the Madoff fraud.
Royal Bank of Scotland v Winterthur (2008) – Claim for breach of warranty and fraudulent misrepresentation arising out of the sale of Churchill Insurance. Settled during trial in 2008.
Charter plc v City Index (2005/06) with Alan Boyle QC – Claim in knowing receipt in relation to fraud carried out by company employee. Settled on the first day of trial.
Financial Services Authority v Legal & General (2004) – Financial Services and Markets Tribunal proceedings relating to the mis-sale of mortgage endowment policies. Culminated in a six-week trial before the Tribunal in October 2004.
Safe Harbor v Lloyds Bank and others (2003) – Acted for two US investment companies in ancillary proceedings in England for the purpose of locating and freezing assets misappropriated in an international investment fraud.
Financial Services Authority v Credit Suisse First Boston International (2002) – Disciplinary proceedings against Credit Suisse First Boston International associated disciplinary proceedings against two members of the firm’s management.

Civil Fraud

Recent Cases

Various Investors v Equiti Capital UK (ongoing) – Acting for the Claimants in claim for accessory liability arising from a fraudulent foreign exchange investment scheme. Trial listed for summer 2027.
Public Institute for Social Security v Multiple Defendants (2019-2023) – Acting for one of multiple defendants in very high value and complex proceedings involving allegations that to valuable banking relationships were tainted by the payment of secret commissions worth many millions. Client successfully challenged the court’s jurisdiction.
Various Investors v RSA Plc (2021-2022) – Acting for RSA in defence of claim by various shareholders under s,90A FSMA 2000 in which it was alleged that RSA published Annual Reports and other financial information containing untrue or misleading statements.
A v B (2019) – Acting (led by Dominic Dowley KC) for the Defendant in substantial arbitration involving allegations that valuable industrial contracts were obtained as a result of bribes paid by the Defendant’s agent.
X v Y (2019) – Acting for the Claimant in proceedings in the Civil & Commercial Court in the Qatar Financial Centre.
Madoff Fraud (2014-2016) – Acted in multi-jurisdictional proceedings arising out of the Madoff fraud.
ABTA v Nardi (2004) – Litigation relating to the proceeds of an alleged fraud on ABTA by its former head of legal affairs.
Westminster City Council v Dame Shirley Porter (2004) – Instructed on behalf of the beneficiaries of a number of family trusts in proceedings in which it was alleged that the trusts were shams and/or that they were established with the intention of defrauding creditors.
Safe Harbor v Lloyds Bank & Others (2003) – Acted for two US investment companies in ancillary proceedings in England for the purpose of locating and freezing assets misappropriated in an international investment fraud.