Head of Chambers
Simon Russell
Flint KC
Tenant
Areas of Practice
- Criminal Defence | Commercial Crime
- Public Prosecution
- Private Prosecution
- Regulatory & Disciplinary Proceedings
- Inquiries
EXPERTISE
Simon Russell Flint KC is recognised as a top-class criminal trial and appeals barrister and specialises in cases that require expert advocacy skills. Simon advises professional clients early in proceedings regarding strategy and case management to achieve the best outcomes.
Simon specialises in representing defendants charged with Fraud and Financial crimes and serious violence, particularly Murder and other homicides. He has also represented many defendants facing allegations of sexual offending (both present and historical), manslaughter, child cruelty cases (including where death has occurred) and deaths by dangerous driving.
Simon is regularly consulted by clients convicted following trials to advise upon and to present applications and appeals to the Court of Appeal Criminal Division.
Simon has a reputation for being a tenacious defence advocate with a proven track record of success in high-profile cases. He is, without a doubt, one of the best cross-examiners in the business. Highly skilled, measured, forceful and persuasive; he has a thorough, analytical and adaptable approach.
Directory Recommendations
The Legal 500 says he is “charming with clients and versatile” and an “excellent jury advocate”.
- ‘A very stylish, well-rounded, and experienced silk who has a very nice style with a jury. ‘Chambers & Partners 2017 (Crime)
- ‘An exceptional barrister’. Legal 500, 2016: Crime
- ‘Frequently instructed in sensitive cases’. Legal 500, 2016: Fraud: Crime
- ‘He is a fantastic advocate who juries love’. Chambers & Partners 2016 (Crime)
- ‘He is very well regarded and hugely admired by a variety of people’. Chambers & Partners 2016 (Financial Crime)
- ‘He is very good with the clients, very good on paperwork, and he has charisma ‘Chambers and Partners 2015 Financial Crime
- ‘Simon’s cross-examination stands out. He has this lovely manner about him, and he is an excellent tactician ‘Chambers and Partners 2015 Crime
- ‘A skilled advocate who commands respect in the courtroom.’ Legal 500 2014
- “Immensely amiable, effective, intelligent and incisive”– few barristers enjoy a full commendation from the legal directories.
Simon was appointed as an Assistant Recorder in the Crown Court in 1998.
He was subsequently appointed as a full Recorder in 2000.
Since June 2021 Simon has held the appointment of Acting Judge of the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands.
Notable Cases
MURDER, MANSLAUGHTER and other offending
R v JS & Others | Defending in a 13-handed Murder trial involving an allegation of a contract killing between OCGs in Nottingham and Manchester.
R v DH & Others | Defending in a 7-handed joint enterprise Murder of rival drug suppliers where cut-throat defences were advanced.
R v VS | Defending 19-year-old who had been bullied at college and admitted to a charge of Attempted Murder by stabbing his aggressor.
R v JO & Another | Defending Defendant accused of Murder by gaining access to premises under the pretence of offering sexual services, then drugging victims with scopolamine.
R v BNM & Another | Murder, advancing defence of ‘loss of control’.
R v CH & Others | Defending in a joint enterprise Murder where cut-throat defences advanced.
R v JH | Responding to an application by A-G for CofA to consider the sentence imposed at trial was ‘unduly lenient’.
R v JB | Defending a 19-year-old woman charged with Murder of her father. Defence of self-defence advanced.
R v MK | Defending allegations of historic rapes and sexual abuse in sexual grooming ‘gang’ trial.
R v DD-W | Defending a 14-year-old, part of a ‘county lines’ operation, charged with Murder of a rival dealer.
R v TM | Defending in a trial of the right-wing extremist terrorist murderer of a well-known MP.
R v EI & Others | Defending in allegations of group violence, leading to charges of Murder and Manslaughter.
R v CC | Defending in a two-handed Murder of fellow drug addict.
R v CBE | Defending a doctor charged with causing the death by dangerous driving of one daughter and causing serious injury to another daughter.
R v P W | Defending in trial of Dutch lorry driver charged with the death of 58 illegal Chinese entrants at Dover docks.
R v I | Defending in the trial of the ‘M25’ or ‘trophy’ rapist.
R v LLR, ZXQ & Others | Defending in the Morecambe Bay cockle-picking disaster manslaughter trial.
R v H | Defending in the trial of a man accused of killing a delivery driver. Convicted many years previously of murder, but prosecution was brought without the A-G’s consent having been obtained. A retrial was ordered after the Court of Appeal ruled earlier proceedings were nullified. R v G and H [2015] EWCA Crim 952
R v IS | Defending in trial of Murder of authoress HB and a dog.
Simon also has experience in cases involving serious sexual offences, commercial crime, fraud, inquests, professional disciplinary tribunals, health and safety, extradition, and drug trafficking, successfully defending a range of clients.
FRAUD & FINANCIAL CRIME
R v KH & Others | Defending in a trial of company director accused of participation in multi-million-pound alcohol diversion fraud. Preliminary issue of fitness to plead.
R v MD & Others | Defending in a trial of trader accused of participation in multi-million-pound alcohol diversion fraud.
R v M & Others | Defending in a trial of a High-Net-Worth Individual accused of conspiracy to cheat the revenue and cheating the revenue in respect of claims for capital loss relief.
R v J & J | Defending solicitor accused of conspiracy to defraud made in a private prosecution by solicitor’s firm of which Defendants were former partners.
R v P & Others | Defending in a trial of former investment banker accused of conspiring to cheat the revenue over film finance investments.
R v S & Others | Defending former employee of HBOS in a trial of allegations of conspiracy to corrupt, fraudulent trading, blackmail, and money laundering.
R v G & Another | Defending in a trial of a former company director charged with multiple allegations of obtaining investments by making false representations.
R v J & Others | Defending former company director charged with allegations of corruption relating to Nigerian tax officials.
Limited Company v HMRC | First Tier Tax Tribunal – Leading counsel for Appellants in a claim for repayment of withheld input tax due to the alleged fraudulent evasion of VAT.
R v M & M | Defending in a trial of accused charged by SFO with laundering proceeds of £52 million pension disinvestment fraud.
R v B & D | Defending in a trial of accused charged with transferring controlled prohibited arms to Iraq.
R v S & Others | Defending one of 5 accused charged by SFO with laundering the proceeds of the alleged Beijing Olympics ticketing fraud.
Limited Company v HMRC | First Tier Tax Tribunal – Leading counsel for Appellants in a claim for repayment of withheld input tax due to the alleged fraudulent evasion of VAT.
R v R & Others | Defending in trial of charges of defrauding lending institutions.
R v C | First junior counsel for the defence in three-handed SFO prosecution involving the international promotion of bogus investment schemes involving trades of transactions of Mexican government bonds.
R v C | Defending in a trial of charges of possessing 400 allegedly false bearer bonds, each with a value of £5 million, purportedly issued by the Royal International Insurance Company.
TTI Ltd v Commissioners of HMRC | First Tier Tax Tribunal – appeal proceedings for the return of VAT payments made by a company allegedly participating in MTIC fraud.
DEH v Commissioners of HMRC | First Tier Tax Tribunal – appeal proceedings for the return of VAT payments made by a company allegedly participating in MTIC fraud.
REGULATORY & DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS
The Home Office appoints Simon as a Chairman of the Police Appeals Tribunal.
INQUIRIES
Formal Investigation into the collision between the Marchioness and the Bowbelle [HMSO 23.3.2001] (Counsel for TB, the ‘lookout’ on the foredeck of the Bowbelle at the time of its fatal collision, in the formal investigation chaired by Lord Justice Clarke between Oct and Dec 2000)
APPOINTMENTS
- King’s Counsel – 2003
- Recorder to the Crown Court – 2000
- Assistant Recorder to the Crown Court -1998
- Year of Call – 1980
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- Criminal Bar Association South Eastern Circuit Former Chairman of the Committee of the Kent Bar Mess
- A Chairman of the Police Discipline Appeals Tribunal