Simon Bushell

Senior Partner

Simon Bushell specialises in international commercial litigation and arbitration and has over 35 years’ experience in high stakes commercial disputes work.

Simon has undertaken investigations into complex, worldwide frauds, conspiracies and insolvencies, and has wide experience in coordinating parallel cross border disputes and proceedings before a number of courts and tribunals. He has acted for a broad range of clients, including large corporates, private equity houses, financial institutions, banks, and ultra-high net worth individuals.

He has a strong reputation for his commercial awareness, and strategic thinking which is coupled with his team leadership skills in managing large, complex cross border issues.

Prior to founding Seladore Legal, Simon spent 26 years at Herbert Smith Freehills, including as Head of Fraud and Asset Tracing, and was the chair of the London Litigation practice of Latham & Watkins.

Simon is listed in the Hall of Fame for Civil Fraud in the Legal 500 directory, as well as being a Leading Partner for Banking Litigation.

TESTIMONIALS

"Simon Bushell has all the experience you could hope for, and more. His judgement is excellent, and he is an encyclopaedia on fraud claims."

LEGAL 500 2022

Simon “is an imaginative, creative and focused fraud lawyer who is very knowledgeable and experienced about all facets of this area.”

CHAMBERS 2021

Simon has “notable expertise handling high-value fraud matters, particularly in relation to the commodities and banking sectors.”

CHAMBERS 2020

“A master strategist.”

LEGAL 500 2025

“He has seen it all and brings a wealth of experience and energy to all his matters.”

LEGAL 500 2025

“A very experienced litigator. Can be aggressive when he needs to be but also is commercially very astute.”

LEGAL 500 2025

“Is fab on central strategy and runs a fab team.”

LEGAL 500 2025

Simon Bushell is a "huge force…he knows where the bodies are buried and he digs them up ruthlessly."

LEGAL 500 2024

Simon is "an incredibly experienced litigator who provides strategic advice and has a tenacious approach to cases."

CHAMBERS 2024

"A very good commander and tactician who galvanises the whole team to execute the strategy and pull it off."

CHAMBERS 2024

Simon is “a heavyweight litigator whose strategic thinking is very effective.”

CHAMBERS 2023

“Tactical, experienced and thorough.”

CHAMBERS 2023

“A smart, tactical litigator.”

CHAMBERS 2021

“He has fulsome knowledge of litigation and is very commercial.”

CHAMBERS 2021

Hall of Fame for Civil Fraud. Leading Individual for Premium Commercial Litigation.

LEGAL 500 2021

Simon is described as “a very strong and forceful litigator.”

CHAMBERS 2020

“Highly rated for high-stakes Russian and CIS-related disputes.”

LEGAL 500 2020

“A force-field of drive and determination.”

LEGAL 500 2020

Representing the administrators of a collapsed US investment bank in claims worth €100 million relating to the close out of an €5 billion portfolio of government bonds.
Representing a US mining company in the recovery of promissory notes with a face value of £10 billion issued as a result of fraudulent inducements.
Representing a London mini-cab trade body in judicial review proceedings regarding Transport for London’s regulation of a leading “disruptive” mini-cab platform.
Representing a global professional services firm in High Court proceedings relating to a market-defining team move in the restructuring and insolvency sector.
Leading an employee fraud investigation on behalf of an Eastern European subsidiary of a large pharmaceutical company.
Representing Bluewaters Communications in relation to its High Court claims against Bernie Ecclestone, Bayerische Landesbank, Bambino Holdings Limited, and others arising from the sale of a controlling stake in Formula One to CVC Capital Partners, which resulted in the conviction of BLB’s senior executive, Gerhard Gribkowsky. Recognised by The Lawyer as one of the Top 20 cases of 2018.
Advising a Middle Eastern private wealth fund in relation to a multi-billion-dollar fraud involving large scale bribery, embezzlement and mismanagement across the EMEA region.
Advising a global chemicals company in relation to conspiracy claims arising from the theft of confidential information and the unlawful setting up of a rival business.
Representing a private equity backed transport company in relation to a judicial review of HMRC.
Acting for a major Russian bank in a LCIA arbitration relating to loans in the power sector.
Acting for a global shopping centre owner and developer in relation to a joint venture dispute.
Advising the supervisory and management boards of a Baltic bank in relation to fraud claims, and related asset tracing and enforcement issues.
Advising the sellers of an iconic work of art in relation to an alleged conspiracy.
Advising the seller of a valuable work of contemporary art in relation to secret commissions received by his agent, and the subsequent recovery of the piece, including freezing injunctions, and parallel proceedings in New York.
Advising a major auction house in relation to the alleged negligent attribution of a work claimed to be by John Constable.
Representing a contemporary art dealer in a dispute with his business partner.
Representing a state-owned aluminium processing plant in relation to one of the largest fraud claims ever brought in the English High Court, including obtaining search orders and worldwide freezing injunctions, and parallel LCIA proceedings, Swiss arbitration proceedings, and claims in the BVI.
Representing a German manufacturing company in relation to an internal fraud diverting payments into a fraudulently operated UK bank account, including obtaining Norwich Pharmacal and related freezing injunctions.