Simon Ash

Call: 1999

Simon Ash obtained a law degree at Oxford and then did the Bar Vocational Course at BPP Law School in London. He did pupillage at 36 Bedford Row and, on its completion, joined chambers in 1999. He is a member of Gray's Inn and of the Midland Circuit, though he also practises on the South Eastern Circuit. He is a criminal practitioner and is a member of the Criminal Bar Association. He has a mixed prosecution and defence practice. He is a grade three prosecutor on the Midland Circuit.

Simon has experience of a broad range of work including murder and other serious violence, rape and other sexual offences, kidnapping and blackmail, firearms offences, arson with intent to endanger life, drug trafficking, fraud, and money-laundering. He also has experience of complex and high value confiscation proceedings. Simon has been led in a number of high profile cases involving murder, the importation of heroin on a large scale, money laundering, and the sexual abuse of a large number of boys at a children’s home over a twenty five year period. He has experience of representing young offenders and offenders with serious mental health problems. He has been involved in several notable Court of Appeal cases including R v D [2006] 1 Cr. App. R. (S.) 104 (see also [2006] Crim. L.R. 73) which was the first case dealt with by the Court of Appeal concerning the dangerous offender provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

Areas of expertise

Murder & Manslaughter
Terrorism and domestic extremism
Causing Death by driving
Violence and Public disorder
Domestic Violence
Rape and sexual offences
Child cruelty; Indecent images
Financial Crime - fraud, money laundering and confiscation
Drugs
Revenue and Customs
Mental Health