Japanese-speaking lawyer Simone, a JCCI member - GBH Law

Simone Horrobin is one of our Associate Directors. Simone also has a unique niche in that she is a fluent Japanese-speaking lawyer and speaks Russian …

She is part of our dispute resolution team and is an experienced commercial litigator. She specialises in general litigation and dispute resolution in all forms including real estate disputes, insolvency, fraud, injunctions, shareholder disputes, commercial and contractual disputes, contentious intellectual property (particularly copyright and trademark issues) and mediation.

Japan and UK

The UK and Japan share a long history of cooperation and Japan is “a key security partner for the UK and an enduring friend.

Japan is the third-largest economy in the world. Its GDP crossed the $5 trillion mark in 2019. Strong cooperation between the government and advanced technology businesses has built Japan’s manufacturing and export-oriented economy.

So, this unique niche is a benefit to both Simone and the firm.

Simone and Japan

Simone moved to Japan with her parents when she was five and returned to England just before she was eight. During her time there, Simone was introduced to Japanese culture and of course the language. She fell in love.

Simone read Japanese and Russian at The University of Leeds, and whilst there, was fortunate to spend time studying abroad. She spent a year in Tokyo and six months in Osaka studying at different Universities, and a further six months in Moscow studying at Moscow State University. When she finished her degree, Simone worked for the Japanese Ministry of Education in London.

During this time Simone developed close ties with the Legal Attaché, the Politicians and Economic Ministers of the Japanese Embassy and has been regularly asked to assist them in hosting seminars for delegations of Japanese guests coming to the UK including Members of Parliament, Judges from the Japan Supreme Court, and Civil Servants from the Japanese Ministry of Justice.

This was quite a challenge for a recent graduate as it was an all-Japanese office, but Simone thrived there and continued to work there before doing her law conversion course. Simone was admitted as a solicitor in September 2009.

Simone has been a sponsored member of the British Japanese Parliamentary Group since 2017. The All Party Group develops and improves links between the British, and Japanese Parliaments and promotes trade between the two countries.

Japanese-speaking lawyer Simone is a member of the JCCI and BJLA

Simone has been a corporate member of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) in the UK since 2018. The JCCI in the United Kingdom was set up in 1959, initially as the Japanese Chamber of Commerce in London and in 1974 changed its name to the JCCI. It is a registered private company limited by guarantee, funded by its member’s annual subscriptions. Its purpose is to promote and extend economic relations and trade between Japan and the UK and to promote and protect the interests of Japanese business in the UK. The present membership is over 300 companies and organisations.

Simone is also a British Japanese Law Association (BJLA) committee member, an international, bilateral group based in London. It is open to members of the legal profession in the UK, Japanese lawyers residing in the UK and employees of Japanese companies situated in the UK who are involved in the procurement of legal services. The BJLA has the full support of the Law Society.

Simone also speaks French and German.

If you would like to find out more about Simone or if you wish to make contact, you can view her profile here.