Simon Davies

Office Location

Guernsey

Short Biography

Simon specialises in contentious trusts, director's duties cases, commercial litigation, insolvency, fraud and asset tracing, shareholder disputes, professional negligence and insurance, reinsurance and regulatory disputes. Simon represented the Carlyle Group and Carlyle Investment Management in their successful defence of claims worth around US$2bn before the Royal Court and the Court of Appeal of Guernsey. Simon became an English solicitor in 1993 and became a Guernsey advocate in 2004. Prior to Ogier, Simon worked for 10 years at Ashurst in London, including 15-months on secondment to the Hashidate Law Office in Tokyo. Simon was the Global Head of Ogier's Dispute Resolution service line 2015-2018. Simon was the Bâtonnier, the statutory head of the Guernsey Bar, from October 2020 until October 2022. In October 2023, Simon was sworn in as a Lieutenant Bailiff and sits as a part-time judge in the Royal Court whilst remaining in private practice.

What is your favorite restaurant to take a client or colleague to?

It has to be one with Red in the name! Red, Tinto, China Red, Rosso or Rouge!

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

Always be yourself.

What was your first job?

Saturday assistant in a sports shop. It was fantastic!

What is the book you recommend to everyone?

The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson - an amusing book about driving across America which has inspired me to travel as much as possible to experience as much of the world, its peoples and cultures as possible.

What changes do you expect to see in your practice over the next year?

I hope to sit two days per month as a judge in civil matters whilst maintaining a full-time contentious disputes and regulatory practice. I expect that there will be an increase in regulatory and insolvency disputes and that there will be greater innovation in the delivery of legal services locally and internationally.