Simon Woodhead
Simon Woodhead joined Birketts in 2005 and leads our property disputes team in Norwich.
He acts for clients in a wide range of commercial property disputes, acting frequently in landlord and tenant disputes (involving retail, office and warehouse space), contractual disputes (e.g. options and overage) and disputes concerning easements and restrictive covenants. Simon takes a strategic approach, focusing not just on the detailed factual and legal position, but also ensuring his advice reflects commercial realities and his clients’ objectives.
Whilst Simon acts for both landlords and tenants, he has extensive experience acting for corporate occupiers and in particular advising in connection with surplus property portfolios. His work often involves devising strategies for corporate occupiers to successfully operate break clauses and minimise their liabilities for dilapidations.
Simon has had articles published in the Estates Gazette and is a member of the Property Litigation Association. Simon is a co-author of the Corporate Occupiers Handbook published by Estates Gazette books. Simon regularly presents seminars to clients and has given lectures to the RICS.
Recent work highlights
Successfully acting for a claimant tenant in a high value fraudulent misrepresentation claim against its landlord involving a prominent central London building.
Providing strategic advice to, and acting in property disputes for, Surplus Property Solutions in relation to its management of surplus lease portfolios for Rentokil, Carillion, Santander, B&Q, Morrisons and NatWest.
Successfully acting for a corporate occupier in circumstances where the landlord was seeking to recover from the tenant over £3m in service charges relating to building safety cladding works it was required to carry out to residential upper floors of the building which were wholly unconnected to the commercial space occupied by the tenant.
Experience & education
2005 to date Legal Director (Employed Barrister) with Birketts LLP
2004 Employed Barrister with Mills & Reeve
1996 – 2004 Employed Barrister with Eversheds
1996 Employed Barrister with HRK Solicitors
1994 – 1995 Employed Barrister with Devonshires Solicitors
1990 – 1994 Barrister (2 Harcourt Buildings, London) appearing as an advocate in all levels of the courts up to and including the Court of Appeal
1990 Called to the Bar
1989 Graduated in Law LLB (first class honours)
Simon is tireless in his approach and he thinks of new angles that would pass most by. He’s absolutely fantastic.
Chambers [UK 2026]
