Simon Gibson
Simon.Gibson@kennedyslaw.com
+44 20 7667 9777
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Profile
Simon is a partner with nearly 40 years’ experience at Kennedys. Based in our London office, he specialises in professional indemnity insurance defence and coverage work in the UK and overseas.
His vast experience has included advising the full range of professionals and their insurers including solicitors, architects, engineers, surveyors, accountants, financial advisors and brokers. He has handled complex disputes and coverage issues for many leading insurers. He is currently best known for his coverage advisory work, for which he is one of the “go to” lawyers in the London market.
Simon led the team that defended over 300 firms of solicitors in The Accident Group litigation and he has represented many substantial and well known professional practices in High Court litigation, arbitrations and alternative dispute resolution. There are few situations and problems he has not encountered in his lengthy career. His strategic advice is sought out by clients and colleagues alike.
He is praised by clients for the combination of his attention to detail and ease of presentation. His advice is accessible and readily understood. He simplifies the complex and makes firm recommendations based on his wealth of experience.
Simon Gibson is the person I want to instruct when I require coverage advice. Simon is quite unique in his command of coverage principles, application and ability to reach an answer on a point clearly and decisively.
Qualifications and admissions
- Qualified in England and Wales in 1984
Market recognition
- Recognised in Best Lawyers UK for ‘Professional Malpractice Law'
Best Lawyers UK 2024 -
Leading Individual and recommended lawyer for 'Professional negligence (London)'"Simon Gibson is the person I want to instruct when I require coverage advice. Simon is quite unique in his command of coverage principles, application and ability to reach an answer on a point clearly and decisively".The Legal 500 UK 2024
- Senior Statesperson and notable practitioner for 'Professional Negligence: Technology & Construction (London)'
Chambers UK 2024 - Senior Statesperson and notable practitioner for 'Professional Negligence: Financial (London)'
Chambers UK 2024 - Professional negligence: overall (London)
Chambers UK 2023 - Professional negligence: technology & construction (London)
Chambers UK 2023 -
Leading Individual and recommended lawyer for 'Professional negligence (London)'The Legal 500 UK 2023
- Notable practitioner for 'Professional Negligence: Financial (London)'
"He is strong technically and a good communicator."
Chambers UK 2022 - Notable practitioner for 'Professional Negligence: Insurance (London)'
Chambers UK 2022 - Notable practitioner for 'Professional Negligence: Legal (London)'
Chambers UK 2022 - Notable practitioner for 'Professional Negligence: Technology & Construction (London)'
Chambers UK 2022 - Leading Individual and recommended lawyer for 'Professional negligence (London)'
"Simon Gibson specialises in advising on professional indemnity insurance defence and coverage matters."
The Legal 500 UK 2022 - Senior Statesperson for 'Professional Negligence: Financial (London)'
"He is extremely experienced, a leader in his field and a true specialist with coverage issues."
Chambers UK 2021 - Senior Statesperson for 'Professional Negligence: Legal (London)'
Chambers UK 2021 - Senior Statesperson for 'Professional Negligence: Technology & Construction (London)'
Chambers UK 2021 - Senior Statesperson for 'Professional Negligence: Insurance (London)'
Chambers UK 2021 - Leading Individual and recommended lawyer for 'Professional negligence (London)'
The Legal 500 UK 2021 - Notable practitioner for 'Professional Negligence: Financial (London)'
Sources report: "He's got a fantastic intellect and is really down to earth. He can work at a very high level and communicate complex issues well."
Chambers UK 2020 - Notable practitioner for 'Professional Negligence: Insurance (London)'
Chambers UK 2020 - Notable practitioner for 'Professional Negligence: Legal (London)'
Chambers UK 2020 - Notable practitioner for 'Professional Negligence: Technology & Construction (London)'
Chambers UK 2020
Awards
Work highlights
- Confidential coverage advice and arbitrations across a range of professional indemnity policies, including issues around non-disclosure, blanket notification, year of account, aggregation, dishonesty and the application of exclusions.
- Virgin Management Ltd v De Morgan Group plc and another [1996]. Acted for defendant property consultants in a complex claim, which reached the Court of Appeal, relating to the sale and leaseback of a substantial office block.
- J Jarvis & Sons Ltd v Castle Wharf Developments Ltd and others [2001]. Represented project managers and quantity surveyors in a multi-party construction dispute arising from planning issues with a major development in Nottingham. The case was resolved in the Court of Appeal.
- Graham Arthur Ridgeway Ball and others v Ian Banner and others. Represented a substantial and well-known firm of property consultants in a series of claims relating to investments in Enterprise Zone Trusts.
- The Accident Group litigation. Acted for approximately 300 firms of solicitors in relation to claims arising from the collapse of The Accident Group.
- IBM v RMJM and others. Defended a multi-disciplinary practice against claims arising from the design and construction of a major manufacturing facility in Scotland for an international computer company.
Construction and engineering
Insurance and reinsurance