Simon Thomas

Simon Thomas is an English Barrister and Jersey Advocate and one of the most experienced trial lawyers in Jersey.

Simon is equally at home in both the civil and the criminal courts. His 30 years of experience includes acting for the prosecution and the defence for some of Jersey’s most defining cases in criminal and regulatory matters, as well as cases with an international aspect spanning diverse areas of law including asset tracing and fraud tied to both commercial and trust disputes, Proceeds of Crime investigations (particularly in relation to frozen funds), employment disputes, and family and matrimonial law. Simon believes that a strong grounding in criminal trial work is invaluable when it comes to effective presentation of complex commercial and civil cases in Court.

He is a Crown Advocate in Jersey having been appointed by the Attorney General to prosecute cases. He has acted for both the prosecution and defence in serious crime matters, ranging from homicide and fraud cases to cases involving historic sexual offending. On cross-border matters he has been instructed by governments, enforcement agencies,  corporations and individuals from across the world.

Simon’s strength lies in his courtroom skill and pragmatic approach. He is quoted by Legal 500 as a “thoughtful, creative and very effective advocate.”

Simon read Law at Oxford University and was called to the English Bar in 1995. He undertook a mixed civil and criminal practice at 7 Bedford Row Chambers, London, between 1997 and 2012. Simon retains his English Practising Certificate and is able to practice at the English Bar. Simon is also Director of Baker Regulatory Services Limited.

Recent matters

• Acted for a corporate in negotiating and entering into the first ever Deferred Prosecution Agreement in Jersey arising out of a breach of the Money Laundering (Jersey) Order 2008.
• Acted for a beneficiary in a complex trustee blessing application arising out of the distribution of a series of family trusts which gave rise to challenges to the trustees’ costs.
• Obtained an order for the just and equitable winding up of a Jersey Company on the basis of the need for liquidators to investigate historic transactions in a contested case involving extensive cross-examination of witnesses.
• Currently instructed for the first defendant charged with gross negligence manslaughter arising out of a collision between a cargo ferry and fishing vessel in Jersey.
• Acted for the family of the deceased in the first ever ECHR Article 2 inquest held in Jersey involving failings in relation to the prescription of anti-psychotic drugs to the deceased and failings in his subsequent care. This was the first time that a neglect rider has been added to an inquest verdict in Jersey.
• On behalf of the Jersey Attorney General, successfully prosecuted a defendant charged with murder of his partner in a case which was entirely based on circumstantial evidence.
• Acted for the Plaintiff who sustained life-changing injuries as a result of a fall on a construction site in a case where the Jersey Court clarified the law on liability of employers for employees loaned to third parties.
• Obtained the first ever Periodical Payment Order in Jersey for a client who sustained catastrophic injuries in the course of a road traffic accident.
• Secured the acquittal of a 78-year-old lady on serious allegations of sexual offending dating back 40 years.

Associations, memberships and appointed positions

• Crown Advocate – able to conduct cases on behalf of the Attorney General of Jersey.
• Chair of the Social Security Appeal Tribunal, Social Security Medical Appeal Tribunal and Income Support Tribunal.
• Development Officer of the Jersey Law Society.
• Adjunct Professor on the Jersey Law Course teaching the Procedure module to prospective Jersey Advocates.
• Gray’s Inn Advocacy Trainer approved to train newly qualified Jersey Advocates.
• Approved pupil supervisor.