The areas of work in which we have particular expertise, experience and excellence
The areas of work in which we have particular expertise, experience and excellence
Barristers
Call 1981
Simon Connolly is a heavyweight specialist criminal advocate who has developed a loyal client base and an excellent track record in serious and complex casework.
Simon has acted as lead counsel in murder, attempted murder and manslaughter cases, as well as numerous cases involving fraud, serious organised crime, violent sex offences and causing death by dangerous driving.
As a serious sexual offences practitioner, he is regularly instructed to act in cases involving young children as witnesses or defendants. Simon has a keen understanding of the subtle nuances in neurodiversity and learning differences.
He has particular expertise in cases involving the examination of computers using specialist software. He is adept at understanding complex technical issues and demystifying them before a jury. He has been instructed in a number of encro cases for both prosecution and defence.
Simon is happy to represent clients in courts throughout England at Crown Court and Appellate levels. He mainly practices in the Crown Courts in Suffolk, Kent, and London.
Simon is accredited by the Bar Council to provide Public Access Services.
Simon has acted for both prosecution and defence in serious organised crime cases, including a number of encro cases.
R v HUTCHINSON and others
Leading Junior in sophisticated multi-handed county lines operation resulting in 12-year sentences. No drugs were ever recovered. Complex cell site analysis of more than 300,000 pages of evidence.
R v B and others
Multimillion-pound Class A drugs importation using hidden compartment in a Bentley. Nine defendants.
R v C
Successful defence of a lorry driver accused of importing £5m of cocaine and money laundering.
R v Tedder and others
Leading Junior in armed robbery of £2.5m (Securicor van). Co-defendant gave ‘Queen’s evidence’.
He has appeared for both the defence and prosecution in numerous forfeiture and confiscation matters since the introduction of the confiscation regime. His practice inevitably involves challenges to the POCA regime.
R v Griffiths and others
Money laundering. Assets hidden from previous POCA proceedings claimed as money laundering and claimed as part of POCA in subsequent trial. £160,000 cash and cars and £350,000 real property.
Simon has acted for prosecution and defence in many fraud allegations, including boiler room frauds, phishing, high-value fraud upon the elderly, and invoice diversion frauds.
R v S and others
Complex fraud involving international funds via invoice diversions using multiple bank accounts and innocent transferees.
Simon has acted as junior and leading junior in numerous high-profile murder and manslaughter cases.
R v M
Defended leading member of gang involved in attacking members of rival gang, inflicting GBH and one death using 15-inch zombie knife.
R v A
Defended alleged driver in gangland shooting of two men. Principle defendant was shot dead before trial. Acquitted.
R v G
Successful defence of woman accused of killing her partner in a fight. Despite numerous judicial attempts to persuade her to plead guilty, expert evidence as to cause of death resulted in judge-directed acquittal.
R v Riley
Attempted murder. Sleepwalking defence.
Simon has acted for the defence in a number of courts martial cases, including serious violence and rape.
R v T
Advised pre-interview and advised counsel attending formal interview in case of senior officer eventually acquitted of rape of American soldier while in foreign jurisdiction. Complex case requiring careful and pre-emptive approach to the investigation.
Simon has conducted and advised upon private prosecutions since before the infancy of the Crown Prosecution Service. As a Grade 4 prosecutor, he is well placed to advise on all areas – including conflict of interest, public interest and evidential tests, as well as the complex disclosure obligations.
R v Morris
Successful prosecution of woman jailed after she falsified a DNA test to secure child support from a wealthy ex-boyfriend.
Simon has carved out a successful private practice involving road traffic offending. He provides online advice and representation in the more difficult cases. He has represented hauliers for complex regulatory breaches, as well as DOT taxi regulation. His seniority carries considerable weight in the lower jurisdictions.
R v P
Successful defence of man charged with drink driving on the basis that he was driving on a private roadway.
R v Rahman
Defence of man charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
R v P
Defence of man charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
R v D
Prosecution of man who killed two people and seriously injured others in multiple-car motorway pile-up. Head severed in the collision. Delicate handling of the evidence was required in complex case that went to the Court of Appeal on the issue of recklessness and mens rea.
Simon is regularly instructed to prosecute and defend complex cases of sexual abuse. He has prosecuted and defended the most serious sexual abuse cases.
R v M
Successful defence of man wrongfully accused of historic sexual abuse of three foster children in his care. Extensive Section 8 applications resulting in disclosure of social services files that helped demonstrate his innocence. Defendant praised by judge at end of the case.
R v D
Leading Junior defending schoolmaster and local councillor in possession of indecent images case. Prospective MP witness.
R v R
15 year old accused of sexual abuse of three year old. Child aged five gave evidence.
R v P
Choirmaster accused of historical sexual abuse of four boys.
R v C and others
Sophisticated peer-to-peer paedophile computer network. National Hi-Tech Crime Unit.
R v J
Prosecution and conviction of prolific predatory paedophile who was given the highest reported indeterminate sentence ever passed of 33 years.
Simon has prosecuted and defended the most serious allegations of violence, including glassing incidents (by male and female defendants), use of knives, machetes, severing of limbs, and use of vehicles and dogs as weapons.
R v W
Successful defence of man who bit off his sister’s nose in a fight.
R v W
Successful defence of man who bit off his friend’s ear in a drunken brawl.
R v Parrot and Parrot
One-punch GBH. Sentencing guideline for life-threatening and disabling injury.
Simon has represented members of the deceased’s family and corporations in complex inquest hearings and has represented clients at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, and at Nursing & Midwifery Council tribunals.
Simon has represented care homes in inquests requiring investigation into cause of death, and issues of regulatory compliance and contribution to cause of death that could have ramifications for civil liability. Deals directly with senior and nursing staff at the hearing. Cross-examines experts on issues of causation.
R v Dr D
Represented GP accused of improperly prescribing opiates online. Complex cross-examination of expert on the application of established practice and procedures, NICE guidelines, and the relatively new practice of prescribing without direct face-to-face meetings (when this is appropriate and how it should be conducted).
Simon has represented clubs and players in cases involving physical and racial abuse on and off the field. His clients have included senior officials (Chairman, Director of Football, Coach). He is familiar with the nuanced focus of these hearings and the otherwise unusual approach to evidence and cross-examination. He has provided early advice on written responses (including drafting the response) which can provide a quick resolution.
He has successfully defended allegations of racial abuse (by a player to another player), accusations of abuse of officials, and allegations of assault by a club official on the referee.
Simon Connolly scores third consecutive victory in Football Association tribunals hearings. In a case involving allegations of violent conduct towards a match official, verbal abuse of a match official and failure to control supporters during a…
David Barnes , Jodie-Jane Hitchcock, Simon Connolly and Charles Durrant have returned from a 7 week trial at Nottingham Crown Court before Mr Justice Baker.Both teams' clients were acquitted and the only two defendants to be.The case concerned…
Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB)
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Call: +44 (0) 20 7353 3102
