Simon Laird
Global Head of Insurance
Simon Laird is an expert advising on onshore and offshore commercial disputes, supporting clients in the financial services sector.
Simon leads the Insurance Group (claims and legal) and sits on the firm's board.
Simon regularly speaks at industry events and spearheads the firm's alliance with US law firm, Hinshaw & Culbertson (find out more here) and is on the Global Access Lawyers steering committee.
Simon also Chairs the firm's Balanced Task Force that leads on firmwide I&D initiatives.
Directory quotes
"Simon Laird maintains a notable professional negligence practice focusing on the representation of financial sector clients, with experience handling cross-border matters." - Chambers UK 2023
Ranked – Chambers UK 2022
"Simon Laird maintains a notable professional negligence practice focusing on the representation of financial sector clients, with experience handling cross-border matters." - Chambers UK 2022
Recommended - The Legal 500 UK 2022
Simon Laird maintains a notable professional negligence practice focusing on the representation of financial sector clients, with experience handling cross-border matters. - Chambers UK 2021
Recommended - The Legal 500 UK 2021
A "good, practical and commercial lawyer." - Chambers UK 2019
Simon Laird "delivers sensible, commercial, pragmatic advice to insurers and has a good way about him." - Chambers UK 2018
Sources praise his pragmatic approach, saying: "He cuts to the chase in trying to resolve any issues." - Chambers UK 2017
Simon Laird gains considerable praise from interviewees, one of whom notes: "He's an incredibly bright lawyer and has got a very good commercial mind, which really does assist us." He is widely commended for his knowledge of the financial services sector and is reportedly "very specialised, but very much on top of his subject." - Chambers UK 2017
Also recommended are the "brilliant" Simon Greenley and Simon Laird. - The Legal 500 UK 2016
Recommended - The Legal 500 UK 2015
Peers regard him as "commercial, with good relationships with his clients." Clients say: "He would be my preferred solicitor to defend IFA matters." - Chambers UK 2015
Recommended - The Legal 500 UK 2014
"Very strong on financial services" and someone they are "happy to use on high-value claims." - Chambers UK 2014
Memberships
Relevant work
Defending offshore trustee in respect of large breach of trust claim. Deploying global strategy to recover funds from a rogue beneficiary
Advising firm on multi million pound claim relating to complex structured products
Judicially reviewing FOS in respect of jurisdiction for determining tax avoidance complaints
Assisting numerous firms in respect of skilled person reports and PBRs in relation to ETV matters
Advising individual in relation to ACCA disciplinary proceedings