Simon Popplewell

Simon is widely regarded as a leading practitioner in the area of consumer credit law.  His expertise covers all aspects of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and associated legislation.

Simon has appeared in many of the leading cases in the area, including appearing in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal in Wrench, Johnson & Hopcraft v (1) FirstRand Limited; (2) Close Brothers Limited (acting for a lender in a motor finance commission claim, a case which gained national media attention).  Simon acted for two lenders in the unfair relationship group litigation in Angel and others v Black Horse and others (including unled in the Court of Appeal) and acted for a number of lenders in the High Court Dieselgate litigation.

Simon regularly advises in respect of all aspects of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and its subsidiary legislation, including drafting and reviewing consumer credit documentation, and advising on the securitisation or sale of loan portfolios.

Simon also advises businesses on regulatory engagement, including dealings with the Financial Conduct Authority, and has appeared before numerous regulatory tribunals and decision-making bodies.

Simon provides training in the area of consumer credit to solicitors’ firms and has historically lectured on consumer credit at Manchester University.  He was recently part of a Consumer Credit expert panel assisting the government in the reform of the 1974 Act.

Simon regularly advises or appears in court in matters concerning financial services, including regulatory compliance, investigations, and perimeter issues.  His work includes assisting clients with FCA investigations, responding to Financial Ombudsman Service complaints, and drafting compliant financial services documentation, including mortgage agreements.

Simon acts for businesses and regulators across a wide range of consumer law matters, including unfair trading practices, distance selling, unfair contract terms, sale of goods disputes, and regulatory enforcement actions.   He also drafts contractual terms for businesses.

In addition, Simon undertakes broader commercial dispute work and general common law claims.  He also advises in respect of compliance with the General Conditions of Entitlement for telecommunications providers made by OFCOM.

Simon advises on and drafts documentation for unregulated lending arrangements, including loan agreements and security documentation.  Simon regularly appears in court on behalf of both lenders and receivers in respect of challenges to unregulated secured loans, and acts for lenders in mediations and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.

RLRU Virtual Seminar

October 12, 2023 | 9:00 am - 9:50 am

Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act – transforming consumer enforcement

November 28, 2024 | 1:30 pm

Virtual RLRU Seminar

June 24, 2025 | 9:15 am - 10:00 am

GSL Episode 55: DMCCA Subscription Contracts: Delay, Detail and Direction of Travel

January 13, 2026 | 11:00 am - 11:30 am

Regulated Lending Round-up

May 14, 2026 | 6:00 pm

Gough Square Chambers Shortlisted for 6 Group Litigation and Consumer awards at The Legal 500 Bar Awards 2023

July 13, 2023

Chambers & Partners ranks Gough Square as Number 1 for Consumer Law

November 3, 2023

Chambers have received three nominations in this year’s Legal 500 Bar Awards

July 9, 2024

Gough Square top-ranked by Chambers & Partners 2025

October 18, 2024

Chambers shortlisted for Legal 500 Bar Awards 2026

June 12, 2026

• Angel and others v Black Horse and others (Court of Appeal, 2026): Simon acted for two lenders in the Court of Appeal in an appeal from a decision that borrowers in a group action were entitled to use a single claim form to bring proceedings under the unfair relationship provisions in the Consumer Credit Act 1974.
• Wrench and Johnson v FirstRand Bank Limited [2025] UKSC 33: Simon successfully appeared for FirstRand in respect of its appeal to the Supreme Court in two motor finance commission claims. The case gained national media attention and set a precedent for the many thousands of similar claims before the courts.
• Wrench and Johnson v FirstRand Bank Limited [2024] EWCA Civ 1282: Simon appeared for FirstRand in respect of two motor finance commission claims considered by the Court of Appeal. The case gained national media attention and had significant implications for the motor finance industry. The decision was overturned in the Supreme Court (above).
• Dieselgate Nox litigation (High Court): Simon acted for a number of lenders in the group litigation concerning the “dieselgate” litigation, in which consumers alleged that they had been sold vehicles containing devices that cheated emissions testing. Claims were brought under sale of goods legislation, contract, deceit, the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, and the unfair relationship provisions in the Consumer Credit Act 1974.
• Angel and Others v Black Horse and other similar claims (Birmingham County Court): Simon acted for two lenders in a group claim involving eight lenders overall, in respect of approximately 6,000 claims alleging that the payment of motor finance commission gives rise to an unfair relationship under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Simon successfully led the advocacy on the question of whether the High Court had jurisdiction to consider claims made under the unfair relationship provisions, which is the leading decision on this issue.
• Various SAM borrowers v BOS (Shared Appreciation Mortgages) No 1 plc and others: Simon acted for various Bank of Scotland entities in respect of a group challenge under the unfair relationship provisions in the Consumer Credit Act 1974 to the fairness of the Bank’s historic shared appreciation mortgages. The matter settled shortly before trial.
• Volumatic Ltd v Idea for Life Ltd [2019] EWHC 2273 (IPEC): Simon acted for a business in a commercial dispute concerning whether or not its arrangements gave rise to contractually binding obligations.
• Fortwell Finance Limited v Halstead [2018] EWCA Civ 676: Simon acted for a lender in the Court of Appeal successfully resisting a borrower’s attempt to set aside a consent order on the grounds that the entry into the consent order constituted the regulated activity of administering a regulated mortgage contract within the meaning of Article 61(2) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001. This is the only reported decision on the meaning of this provision.
• Nationwide Debt Consultants Ltd v Financial Conduct Authority [2017] UKUT 0142 TCC: Simon acted for the applicant before the Upper Tribunal seeking to suspend the effect of termination of a debt management company’s interim permission under the Consumer Credit transitional provisions regime in FSMA 2000.
• The Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills v PLT Anti-Marketing Ltd [2015] EWCA Civ 76: Simon acted for the Appellant in the Court of Appeal in a decision that addressed the meaning of ‘material information’ for the purpose of Regulation 6 of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
• In the matter of London Scottish Finance Ltd (in Administration) v Craig and others [2013] EWHC 4047 (Ch): Simon acted for the administrators of a lender in an application for directions in the administration which considered the extent to which money paid under an unenforceable consumer credit agreement is recoverable by a debtor.
• The Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills v PLT Anti-Marketing Limited [2013] EWHC 3626 (Ch): Simon acted for a company in an application in a winding up petition that considered the scope of Regulation 6 of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations
• European Environmental Controls Limited v Office of Fair Trading UKFTT (GRC) CCA/2009/0002: Simon acted for the Appellant in appeal from a decision of the Office of Fair Trading to take away the consumer credit licence of a credit broker with a turnover in excess of £10m per annum.
• Garside v Black Horse Ltd [2010] EWHC 190 (QB): Simon acted for a motor dealership in a case about a breach of an implied term in a contract for the purchase of a sports car. The case considered the time to assess damages as between a motor dealer and a finance company where there has been a breach of the implied term as to satisfactory quality in the sale contract between the motor dealer and the finance company.
• Sodha v Office of Fair Trading CCA/2008/0005: Simon acted for the Appellant in an appeal from a decision to revoke a credit broker’s consumer credit licence. The case gave guidance on the appropriate approach to costs in the Consumer Credit Appeals Tribunal.

• Contributor to the Encyclopaedia of Financial Services
• Co-author of ‘The Law of Consumer Credit and Hire‘, Oxford University Press
• Co-author of Atkin’s Court Forms volume 11 “Consumer Protection”
• Annotated the Consumer Credit Act 2006 for Current Law

• A silk in all but name whose exceptional knowledge is second to none.  He’s a commercially focused advocate who is forceful in his opinions and skilled on his feet – Chambers and Partners, Consumer Law, 2026
• Absolutely fantastic in his ability to take black-letter law and apply it.  He is really good with the clients and able to articulate issues to them incredibly well. – Chambers and Partners, Consumer Law, 2026
• Simon is thorough in his approach, and his written work is excellent.  His advocacy style is direct and effective. – Chambers and Partners, Consumer Finance, 2026
• Simon has a fantastic reputation and is forthright in his submissions.  He is very effective, clear and helpful. – Chambers and Partners, Consumer Finance, 2026
• Simon is a go-to expert.  His reputation is exceptional. – Legal 500, Banking and finance (including consumer credit) 2026
• Simon is a walking encyclopaedia for financial services regulation. – Legal 500, Financial services and fintech regulation, 2026

Simon attended Lincoln College, Oxford University.

Who I am

I am a barrister that provides legal services. You can contact me at simon.popplewell@goughsq.co.uk , on 0207 353 0924 or at Gough Square Chambers, 6-7 Gough Square, London EC4A 3DE.

How I use your information

As part of my role as a barrister I collect and process the personal data of my clients, and of third parties connected with the cases on which I work. This can include sensitive personal information and information about criminal convictions.  I do this so that I can act for my clients.

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You have the right of access to your information (a data subject access request), the right to correct inaccurate information, the right to erase information (to be forgotten), the right to object to or restrict my processing of your information and a right to information portability. Please see my Full Privacy Notice for information on how to exercise these rights.

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More information

Please see my Full Privacy Notice for more information on how I use your information and your rights in respect of that use.