Image of Charlie Weston-Simons

Charlie Weston-Simons

Partner

Charlie is a cybersecurity and insurance specialist.

Charlie has extensive experience advising on cybersecurity matters. In addition to helping contain and manage incidents, he works with organisations to enhance their cyber resilience, manage regulatory investigations and facilitate insurance recoveries. While Charlie’s work covers all stages of the cybersecurity lifecycle, he has a particular focus on post-incident claims, regularly representing cyber attack victims faced with data breach claims (including group litigation) and commercial disputes. He also advises on recovery actions brought by organisations impacted by cybersecurity incidents in their supply chains.

On the insurance side of his practice, Charlie acts for insurers, reinsurers, intermediaries and policyholders on complex disputes arising from all major classes of commercial insurance, including D&O, warranty and indemnity, cyber, property damage and business interruption, construction, marine cargo and trade credit. His recent experience includes advising on issues arising from Covid-19, Grenfell, ransomware and various private M&A transactions. He also advises policyholders and brokers on insurance wordings and structuring of insurance programmes.


Experience

Pro bono

Supporting various children’s rights organisations participating in the UK Covid-19 enquiry.

Advising a children’s charity on a potential intervention in an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. The subject matter of the appeal was a Court of Appeal judgment concerning the payment of upfront childcare fees for parents on universal credit.

Acting for two victims of a significant alleged fraud in recovery proceedings against various parties.

Supporting a young man with special educational needs in efforts to implement an Education Health and Care Plan.

Published Work

  • The Insurance Law Handbook, 4th edition, contributing author and editor
  • Data breach litigation - here to stay?, Corporate Disputes Magazine, April 2019
  • Cyber litigation in the information age, Corporate Disputes Magazine, March 2019

Qualifications

Admissions

Solicitor, qualified in England & Wales (2013)

Barrister, qualified in England & Wales (2006)

Academic

Outstanding, Bar Vocational Course, Inns of Court School of Law (2006)

Distinction, Post-Graduate Diploma in Law, City University (2005)

Double first, History, Cambridge University (2004)

Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.