Simon Walsh Partner | Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution Team

Expertise

I am a commercial disputes specialist.

I advise English and international businesses on High Court and county court litigation, arbitration and mediation with a focus on how they can best use the options open to them to achieve their goals when disputes arise. My work also covers pre and post-issue advice on dispute resolution, dispute avoidance and the management of claims.

I support clients in a wide range of contract and negligence claims, complex debt recovery cases, regulatory inquiries, redress schemes and insolvency disputes.

My work has covered the quality of goods and services, computer software and its implementation, the sale of high value machinery as well as failed joint ventures and the enforcement of loans and security.

I also deal with cases involving restrictive covenants and the misuse of confidential information that involve obtaining, and defending claims for, injunctions.

I work with business owners on personal claims too that involve sensitive director, shareholder and partnership disputes.

Away from client work, I write articles on a range of matters for the media and the SA Law website – you can read some of them here – and I am the firm’s Training Principal.

Key Experience

Urgent injunctions

  • Acted for the successful claimants in a cross-border claim for unlawful means conspiracy and misuse of confidential information
  • Successfully defended a claim for an injunction to prevent contract termination and damages; secured the dismissal of both and obtained an indemnity costs order

Shareholder and boardroom disputes

  • Defended a US$5m Stockholm Chamber of Commerce arbitration between shareholders in a failed joint venture in Pakistan
  • Acted for the successful claimant in a £1 million dispute between former business partners
  • Advised shareholders and directors on deadlocked companies, breaches of shareholders’ agreements, unfair prejudice claims and directors’ duties

Contract claims

  • Acted for three African banks in a US$40m ICC arbitration claim involving banking software
  • Defended a distributor in a £13m claim for breach of contract arising out of a machinery sale
  • Defended a manufacturer in a £8 million claim involving gas compressors that included an eight-week High Court trial
  • Represented trading businesses, professional firms, financial advisors, recruitment agencies and independent schools in claims to recover fees and defend related counterclaims

Business sale disputes

  • Represented the claimant buyer in a seven-figure breach of warranty claim arising out of an agreement for the acquisition of an airflow measurement device business
  • Defended claims for breaches of covenant and misrepresentation
  • Enforced and defended earnout provisions for sellers and buyers

Loans and Guarantees

  • Advised lenders and borrowers on the recovery of loans and the enforcement of related securities
  • Advised guarantors on the defence and settlement of substantial personal guarantee claims

Financial Services

  • Advised the successful claimants in the settlement of seven-figure claims for mis-selling commercial financial products
  • Advised on claims and defences arising out of authorised push payment frauds
  • "We have worked with Simon Walsh and his attention to detail is first rate. He unpicks issues quickly and gets to the root of the issue in an impressive way."

    Legal 500 2026
  • Simon Walsh is a very dedicated solicitor, who provides an exceptional service to his clients. He keeps up to date with the recent legal developments and provides valuable insight and support into how a case can be won. He is able to identify with ease the key legal issues and how they will impact upon the case.

    Legal 500 2024
  • Simon Walsh is pragmatic and sensible. He can analyse a legal problem quickly and get to grips with the material. He is tenacious in correspondence.

    Legal 500 2025
  • Simon Walsh is an exceptional individual, who went above and beyond for us.

    Legal 500 2025
  • Simon Walsh has been an amazing source of information, support and insight through out all discussions and any subject matter being explored. His patience and knowledge have been invaluable and he has an amazing ability to put things in laymans terms.

    Legal 500 2023
  • "Simon Walsh has deep experience in commercial litigation, including shareholder and contractual disputes, and is particularly adept at representing SME clients."

    Chambers & Partners 2026
  • "Simon Walsh is very diligent and a great litigator"

    Chambers & Partners 2026
  • "He is a knowledgeable and effective lawyer, and a real pragmatist in terms of his approach."

    Chambers & Partners 2026
  • Simon Walsh is praised for his expertise in commercial and corporate litigation, with experience in cases involving shareholder disputes and breach of directors duties.

    Chambers & Partners 2023

Career & Qualifications

  • BA (Hons) from Exeter University
  • Common Professional Examination at the University of Westminster
  • Legal Practice Course at the College of Law
  • Admitted to the Roll of Solicitors on 15 October 1999

In General

  • Member of the Society for Computers and Law
  • Governor and member of the Academy Trust at The Marlborough Science Academy, St Albans
  • Former coach and now Masters Touch player, Tabard RFC

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