Natasha Simonsen

Acting for the Claimants in this judicial review challenge to the Prime Minister’s decision not to order an independent judge-led inquiry into UK complicity in torture and rendition (led by Ben Jaffey QC). Judgment was handed down by the Divisional Court on a preliminary issue (the appropriate standard of disclosure in closed material proceedings concerning national security) and an application for permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal is outstanding. The substantive hearing is listed in January 2020.

Advising techUK and some of its member entities on data protection obligations and the legal gateways to data sharing, including in relation to the Data Protection Acts and the GDPR

Acted for the Claimant, Mr Coughlan, in a judicial review of the government’s pilot schemes for voter identification in the May 2019 local government elections. The Claimant contended that the voter ID scheme was ultra vires the Representation of the People Act 2000 and did not reflect the constitutional significance of the right to vote. Natasha was led by Michael Fordham QC (as he then was) in the High Court proceedings in March 2019, and by Anthony Peto QC in the Court of Appeal in April 2020. An application for permission to appeal to the Supreme Court remains outstanding.

Acted for the claimant in this application for judicial review of the decision of the SFO to suspend an independent investigation (with Michael Fordham QC, Jason Pobjoy and Hollie Higgins).

Natasha is instructed (led by Ben Jaffey QC) to act for Reprieve, David Davis MP and Dan Jarvis MP in an application for judicial review of the Government's decision not to order an independent judge-led inquiry into UK complicity into torture and rendition post 9/11.

Acted for the Defendant (led by David Pievsky) in an application for judicial review of the Secretary of State's decision to transfer governance from the claimant Fire Authorities to the local Police and Crime Commissioners. The Court found in favour of the Defendants and refused permission to appeal.

Acted for the Claimant in an application for judicial review of a proposal for local government reorganisation in Dorset under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

Application for judicial review of a decision of the FSCS denying compensation to victims of mis-selling of ARM bonds (assisting Ben Jaffey QC)

(Led by Andrew Green QC) advised a prospective commercial claimant on the prospects of successfully challenging a determination of the Financial Ombudsman Service

Competition Appeal Tribunal trial concerning BT's challenge to Ofcom's business connectivity market review (assisting Tristan Jones, Mark Vinall and Daniel Cashman).

Challenge to the lawfulness of the Security Services' collection and retention of bulk data (assisting Thomas de la Mare QC, Ben Jaffey QC and Daniel Cashman)

Trial of preliminary issue as to whether a railway training accreditation body is an "undertaking" for the purposes of s 18 of the Competition Act 1998 (assisting Tristan Jones)

Group action by consumer who purchased or leased vehicles manufactured by VW, Audi, Škoda and SEAT which contained "defeat devices" to reduce NOx emissions during engine testing (assisting Thomas de la Mare QC and Ben Jaffey QC)

Successfully defended Camelot UK Ltd (the administrator of the National Lottery) in a claim for judicial review.

Assisting on potential claims against the Secretary of State for Health in respect of the conduct of the Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency.

Acted for Liberty (as intervener) in a case about the proper approach, in the context of a commercial dispute, to evidence which may have been obtained by torture (with Ben Jaffey QC and George Molyneaux).

Acting for the Claimants in this judicial review challenge to the Prime Minister’s decision not to order an independent judge-led inquiry into UK complicity in torture and rendition (led by Ben Jaffey QC). Judgment was handed down by the Divisional Court on a preliminary issue (the appropriate standard of disclosure in closed material proceedings concerning national security) and an application for permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal is outstanding. The substantive hearing is listed in January 2020.

Delivering training in Lebanon to two Lebanese Bar Associations on international and domestic law standards prohibiting torture and the role of human rights lawyers in upholding those standards (with Timothy Otty QC and Isabel Buchanan)

Natasha is instructed (led by Ben Jaffey QC) to act for Reprieve, David Davis MP and Dan Jarvis MP in an application for judicial review of the Government's decision not to order an independent judge-led inquiry into UK complicity into torture and rendition post 9/11.

Acting pro bono for the AIRE Centre, intervening in a case about whether refugees in the UK's sovereign base areas in Cyprus have the right to enter the metropolitan UK (with Mike Fordham QC, Katie O'Byrne and Natasha Simonsen).

Challenge to the lawfulness of the Security Services' collection and retention of bulk data (assisting Thomas de la Mare QC, Ben Jaffey QC and Daniel Cashman)

Claims by Libyan/Moroccan family against MI5 and MI6 for complicity in their unlawful abduction in Thailand, rendition to Libya, detention and torture (assisting Ben Jaffey QC)

Application to the Strasbourg Court challenging the compatibility of the Metropolitan Police's retention of personal information about peaceful protestors with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (assisting Ben Jaffey QC)

Appeal by a prisoner against the dismissal of his claims under Articles 3 and 8 ECHR and for disability discrimination in relation to sanitation arrangements in a high-security prison (assisting Ben Jaffey QC)

Advising an international corporation working in responsible sourcing of natural resources on the legal effect of Security Council Resolutions (including e.g. in relation to conflict diamonds)

Delivering training in Lebanon to two Lebanese Bar Associations on international and domestic law standards prohibiting torture and the role of human rights lawyers in upholding those standards (with Timothy Otty QC and Isabel Buchanan)

Acting pro bono for the AIRE Centre, intervening in a case about whether refugees in the UK's sovereign base areas in Cyprus have the right to enter the metropolitan UK (with Mike Fordham QC, Katie O'Byrne and Natasha Simonsen).

Natasha is instructed (led by Ben Jaffey QC) to act for Reprieve, David Davis MP and Dan Jarvis MP in an application for judicial review of the Government's decision not to order an independent judge-led inquiry into UK complicity into torture and rendition post 9/11.

Claims by Libyan/Moroccan family against MI5 and MI6 for complicity in their unlawful abduction in Thailand, rendition to Libya, detention and torture (assisting Ben Jaffey QC)

Competition Appeal Tribunal trial concerning BT's challenge to Ofcom's business connectivity market review (assisting Tristan Jones, Mark Vinall and Daniel Cashman).

Follow-on damages claim by purchasers of automobile bearings after the European Commission imposed a €953 million fine in respect of a 7-year cartel (assisting Thomas de la Mare QC, Naina Patel, Tristan Jones and Celia Rooney)

Trial of preliminary issue as to whether a railway training accreditation body is an "undertaking" for the purposes of s 18 of the Competition Act 1998 (assisting Tristan Jones)

Competition damages claim relating to the setting of interchange fees, including applicable law and limitation issues (assisting Kieron Beal QC and Tristan Jones)

Acted for a party alleging constructive unfair dismissal, direct discrimination, discrimination arising from disability, victimisation and harassment against her former employer.

Unfair dismissal claim by former FX trader dismissed for disclosure of client confidential information, which came to light following the Forex Scandal (assisting Diya Sen Gupta)

Successfully defending an appeal against the Employment Tribunal's refusal to revise a judgment rejecting a claim for more than £6.4 million in damages for unfair dismissal (assisting Diya Sen Gupta)

Defending an application for damages for unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal by a former FX trader dismissed for sharing client confidential information (assisting Diya Sen Gupta)

Successfully defending an unfair dismissal claim by former FX trader dismissed for disclosure of client confidential information, which came to light following the Forex Scandal (assisting Paul Goulding QC and Diya Sen Gupta)

Acting for the First Defendant, ENRC in a high-profile claim brought by a partner of Dechert LLP. The claim concerns alleged surveillance carried out by the Second Defendant, Diligence International as part of an investigation into alleged wrongdoing by the partner during the period in which he was retained by ENRC. 

Natasha acted for the Defendant in this high value claim relating to alleged bribery of a foreign public official.  Parallel investigation by the Serious Fraud Office. Natasha was led by Tony Peto QC and Peter Head.

Hearing in the Court of Appeal on the proper construction of pre-emption provisions in the articles of association of a private limited company (assisting Mark Vinall)

Group action by consumer who purchased or leased vehicles manufactured by VW, Audi, Škoda and SEAT which contained "defeat devices" to reduce NOx emissions during engine testing (assisting Thomas de la Mare QC and Ben Jaffey QC)

Claim concerning subordinated loans alleged to have been extinguished by operation of Russian law (assisting Andrew Green QC and Robert Weekes)

Arbitration hearing before the British Boxing Board of Control, raising issues relating to breach of contract and quantum of damages (assisting Robert Weekes).

$800m+ claim in the BVI Commercial Court concerning a joint venture in relation to various power generation and distribution assets in Russia (assisting Pushpinder Saini QC and Robert Weekes)

Claim for deceit and breach of warranty relating to a sale and purchase of a pharmaceutical company (assisting Robert Weekes)

Acted for the Defendant in a jurisdiction dispute on the applicability of the recast Brussels Regulation to flight compensation claims pursuant to EC Regulation 261/2004

Acted for the Claimant in an application for judicial review of a proposal for local government reorganisation in Dorset under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

An independent Panel of the IAAF Ethics Board partially upheld charges against the President of the UAE Athletics Federation and former World Athletics (previously IAAF) Council member, Ahmad Al Kamali. The Panel imposed a sanction upon Mr Al Kamali of a ban from the sport for 6 months, fined him €5,000 and ordered him to pay €15,000 in costs. Natasha acted as Legal Secretary to the Panel of the IAAF Ethics Board. 

Advising a professional players’ sporting association on the implications of the GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 for athletes’ rights, including in relation to “wearables” generating personal data during sporting competitions.

Arbitration hearing before the British Boxing Board of Control, raising issues relating to breach of contract and quantum of damages (assisting Robert Weekes).

Natasha serves as one of three Legal Secretaries to the Ethics Board of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

Claim concerning subordinated loans alleged to have been extinguished by operation of Russian law (assisting Andrew Green QC and Robert Weekes)

$800m+ claim in the BVI Commercial Court concerning a joint venture in relation to various power generation and distribution assets in Russia (assisting Pushpinder Saini QC and Robert Weekes)

Acted for the Defendant in a jurisdiction dispute on the applicability of the recast Brussels Regulation to flight compensation claims pursuant to EC Regulation 261/2004

Competition damages claim relating to the setting of interchange fees, including applicable law and limitation issues (assisting Kieron Beal QC and Tristan Jones)

Acting for the First Defendant, ENRC in a high-profile claim brought by a partner of Dechert LLP. The claim concerns alleged surveillance carried out by the Second Defendant, Diligence International as part of an investigation into alleged wrongdoing by the partner during the period in which he was retained by ENRC. 

Advising techUK and some of its member entities on data protection obligations and the legal gateways to data sharing, including in relation to the Data Protection Acts and the GDPR

Advising a professional players’ sporting association on the implications of the GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 for athletes’ rights, including in relation to “wearables” generating personal data during sporting competitions.