Russell Cooke Putney London 2

About Simon

Simon heads the restructuring and insolvency team, advising insolvency practitioners, directors, charity trustees, companies, investors and high net worth individuals on a wide variety of insolvency matters. He regularly advises clients on their rights against counterparties that are in liquidation or facing financial difficulty, and has been involved in some of the most high-profile insolvencies in recent years. He frequently advises boards of directors and charity trustees on their duties and obligations, particularly in an insolvency context. Simon also has particular expertise in complex contentious insolvency matters, often involving concurrent proceedings in multiple jurisdictions and the recovery of assets based overseas. He has substantial experience of disputes before the English courts, in addition to litigation and arbitration in key venues around the world.

Often writing and speaking on ‘hot topics’ in the insolvency market, Simon has been cited in Sealy & Milman’s Annotated Guide to the Insolvency Legislation. He regularly deals with funded cases and advises on how best to finance disputes.

Described as "hard-working, approachable, and strategically astute", and providing "clear, prompt, and decisive advice", Simon is deemed by his clients as "a pleasure to deal with". Recognised as "a truly standout individual in this field", he possesses "an impressive, in-depth knowledge of insolvency law and practices and has an exceptional ability to think strategically and provide pragmatic, effective, and cost-efficient solutions".

Simon qualified in 2010 and joined Russell-Cooke in 2024. He is also a Solicitor Advocate qualified in England and Wales and admitted to practice in the British Virgin Islands. 

He is hugely adaptable, very prudent on what his clients want and highly effective.
Chambers UK (2025)

Experience

  • Acting for the directors of a community interest company on their duties in an insolvency context and potential options for winding down the business.
  • Acting for the petitioning creditor in an application for the appointment of interim receivers over the property of an individual pending the hearing of a bankruptcy petition, and subsequently acting for the trustees in bankruptcy.
  • Acting for five directors of a listed PLC (in administration) as respondents to an unfair prejudice petition filed by two minority shareholders.
  • Acting for the joint liquidators of various BVI and Isle of Man companies in relation to proceedings in a number of jurisdictions including England, the BVI, Isle of Man, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the US.
  • Acting for the liquidators of a Greek telecommunications company in litigation both in England and New York challenging a re-financing transaction and claiming in excess of EUR one billion
  • Acting for a Brazilian soybean processor in proceedings relating to the legality of consent payments made as part of a debt restructuring
  • Advising a large mining company on the liquidation of one of its subsidiaries in Africa and related arbitration proceedings
  • Advising a leading energy company on various insolvency-related claims
  • Acting for an aviation client on claims arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Advising an Australian bank on contentious aspects of a debt restructuring
  • Acting for a leading money transfer company as claimant in an LCIA arbitration (London seat) seeking to recover amounts owed by one of its agents in Africa
  • Acting for the claimant in a successful application for summary judgment in relation to a claim for repayment of a loan
  • Advising an investment fund on potential remedies for numerous breaches of loan agreements
  • Advising a bank on potential claims in relation to a company in liquidation
  • Acting for a food manufacturer in relation to the collection of an outstanding debt and related proceedings
  • Acting for an investment fund as defendant in English arbitration enforcement proceedings before the High Court
  • Acting for a global investment bank on English law aspects of New York litigation in relation to alleged misrepresentations in offering documents
  • Acting for a media client in a dispute over payments due under an agreement
  • Acting for a global investment firm in High Court litigation arising out of a settlement agreement
He's an excellent practitioner.
Chambers UK (2025)

Education

  • Attended Cambridge University, Trinity College M.A. (Cantab)
Exceptionally clever and is able to present the client with practical solutions to complex problems
The Legal 500 (2023)

Memberships

  • INSOL
  • R3 - The Association of Business Recovery Professionals
  • Insolvency Lawyers’ Association

Awards and accreditations

Simon's highlights

News

17.09.2024

The implications for schools at financial risk: points to consider—Independent Schools Magazine

In the wake of the government’s decision to impose VAT on private schools, partner Simon Jerrum has contributed an article...
Simon Jerrum, Partner in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, restructuring and insolvency team.
Simon Jerrum
1 min Read
News

22.07.2024

Financially distressed charities—issues to be aware of

Charities, like businesses and individuals, can encounter financial difficulty.  This may be for a number of different reasons.  In some instances, charities may...
Simon Jerrum, Partner in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, restructuring and insolvency team.
Simon Jerrum
4 min Read
News

10.07.2024

Russell-Cooke appointed to the Charity Commission panel of Interim Managers

We are pleased to announce that Pippa Garland, Sukanya Ransford, and Simon Jerrum have been appointed to the Charity Commission’s...
Pippa Garland (1) Simon Jerrum, Partner in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, restructuring and insolvency team. Sukanya Ransford, Legal director in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, charity law and not for profit team.
Multiple Authors
2 min Read
Pippa Garland, Simon Jerrum, Sukanya Ransford
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