Simon focuses his practice in the area of product liability and managing regulations that affect clients' brands and businesses in the United Kingdom, United States and Europe. He has worked extensively on mass torts and group actions with an emphasis on technical product features and marketing claims. His experience also includes litigation on corporate and commercial matters.
Simon, a U.K. national, is fluent in English and French, having lived and worked both in London and Paris. He also has a good working knowledge of German. He is a delegate of Shook's Product Liability Forum, run by the British Institute of International and Comparative Law. He has been included in The Legal 500 United Kingdom; Chambers UK Expert Guides: Guide to the World's Leading Product Liability Lawyers; and Who's Who Legal: The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers.
Directory sources describe Simon as "a very good lawyer in command of his subject, who understands the science not just the law." Chambers UK sources also praised Simon's strength in handling international disputes and described him as "very strong on the regulatory side" of product liability. They also identified Simon as one of a “very solid team in London” that is "excellent" in client service and responsiveness. Chambers UK 2021 noted that Simon is, "routinely sought out for his product liability expertise by a diverse range of clients. He is well regarded for his handling of multiparty litigation and often plays a coordinating role in cross-border proceedings.”
Simon has spent a significant amount of time in the United States gaining experience of U.S. litigation methods. He works frequently in Europe, the Middle East and Asia and has extensive experience in the various legal systems within these jurisdictions.
Product Liability - Litigation on tort, strict liability and civil law remedies together with advice on liability regulation, marketing, advertising and defense of prosecutions. Product safety counselling regarding product safety reporting, recalls and corrective actions and related liability issues.
Regulatory Affairs - Advising clients on assessments of evidence for policy, particularly in the consumer behaviour and marketing fields; assisting with reviews of impact assessments and consultation responses relating to new laws.
Corporate and General Business Liability - Broad variety of general corporate, business liability and insolvency issues to support operations of clients active in U.K. and Europe.
Commercial Litigation - Adviser to clients for U.K. proceedings involving commercial, tort, contract disputes, asset tracing and insolvency.
Publications
Simon Castley & Greg Fowler, Editors, Getting the Deal Through: Product Liability, August 2019.
Simon Castley, Sarah Croft & Jon Hudson, "England and Wales," in Getting the Deal Through: Product Liability, August 2019.
Simon Castley, Greg Fowler & Ruth Anne French-Hodson, "Global Overview," Getting the Deal Through: Product Liability, August 2019.
Simon Castley & Leo Fielding, Product Liability Bulletin: What does a "no deal" Brexit mean for any future UK product safety regime? August 2019.
Simon Castley & Greg Fowler, Contributing Editors, Getting the Deal Through: Product Liability, August 2018.
Simon Castley, EU Product Liability Directive - Update and Restart?, Lexology, October 2016.
Simon Castley, Product Liability - Brexit Update, in Getting the Deal Through, August 2016.
Simon Castley & Jon Hudson, England and Wales, in Getting the Deal Through - Product Liability 2016 (Law Business Research Ltd., 2016)
Simon Castley & Jon Hudson, England and Wales, in Product Liability in 29 Jurisdictions Worldwide; (Harvey L. Kaplan, Gregory L. Fowler and Simon Castley, eds., 2015).
Simon Castley & Jon Hudson, England and Wales, in Product Liability in 29 Jurisdictions Worldwide; (Harvey L. Kaplan, Gregory L. Fowler and Simon Castley eds., 2014).
Simon Castley & Jon Hudson, England and Wales, in Product Liability in 31 Jurisdictions Worldwide; (Harvey L. Kaplan, Gregory L. Fowler and Simon Castley eds., 2013).
Simon Castley & Jon Hudson, England and Wales, in Product Liability in 33 Jurisdictions Worldwide; (Harvey L. Kaplan, Gregory L. Fowler and Simon Castley eds., 2012).
Simon Castley & Jon Hudson, England and Wales, in Product Liability in 31 Jurisdictions Worldwide; (Harvey L. Kaplan and Gregory L. Fowler eds., 2011).
Simon Castley & Aaron Le Marquer, England and Wales, in Product Liability in 32 Jurisdictions Worldwide; (Harvey L. Kaplan and Gregory L. Fowler eds., 2010).
Simon Castley & Aaron Le Marquer, England and Wales, in Product Liability in 36 Jurisdictions Worldwide; (Harvey L. Kaplan and Gregory L. Fowler eds., 2009).
Simon Castley & Aaron Le Marquer, England and Wales, in Product Liability in 36 Jurisdictions Worldwide; (Harvey L. Kaplan and Gregory L. Fowler eds., 2008).
Gregory L. Fowler & Simon J. Castley, Global Trade and Regulatory Oversight: Are Uniform Product Safety Standards on the Horizon?, Product Law and Advertising Newsletter (International Bar Association), May 2008, at 16.
Gregory L. Fowler and Simon J. Castley, Product Manufacturers, Take Heed: International Markets Bring International Regulatory Oversight, Safety Standards and Liability Concerns, 2 Bloomberg Corporate Law Journal, Winter 2007, at 83.
Simon J. Castley, co-author, International Product Liability, Aspatore Books. (2004)
Presentations
Simon has lectured on tort, regulatory policy, product liability and product safety and issues in the United States, including at the Library of Congress and Defense Research Institute.