Simon Levine is the firm's Chief Strategic Innovation Partner. Having created Law&, our brand for disruptive legal, technology and business solutions, Simon continues to shape DLA Piper's future as a world-class innovator in legal and professional services, ensuring the firm stays ahead in embracing change for our business and our clients.
Simon was appointed International Managing Partner and Global Co-CEO in January 2015, was re-elected in 2018, and stepped down in October 2024. In these roles, Simon reset DLA Piper’s strategy, culture and values, led our innovation agenda, and led our ambitious approach to both diversity and inclusion and sustainability and ESG. The firm’s reputation, brand and profitability improved in each year of his office.
Before leading the firm, Simon sat on our Executive as Managing Director of Groups and Sectors, and was Co-Global Head of the Intellectual Property and Technology group, while keeping an active practice advising clients on intellectual property, media and sports law.
Simon focuses on all aspects of copyright and related rights, advertising and sponsorship, design rights, trademark rights, passing off, breach of confidence and patents. He has acted for well-known individuals, trusts, charities, and companies in many industries, particularly media, sport and technology.
Simon has been involved in all aspects of litigation and arbitration. He has experience in worldwide courts and in coordinating multijurisdictional litigation, and has arbitrated under a number of rules including the ICC. In the UK, he has litigated in the High Court, the Copyright Tribunal, the Court of Appeal, the House of Lords/Supreme Court and the Privy Council, as well as the Trade Mark and Patent Registries in the UK and Europe, and the European Court of Justice. A number of his cases have been reported, set legal precedent in both IP and arbitration law, and been the subject of media interest.
Simon has a passion for education and teaches IP and Business at Imperial College Business School in London, which granted him a professorship in 2015. He has also worked with and presented at the Moller Institute in Cambridge, and the Cambridge Institute for Sustainable Leadership.
Simon is a Non-Executive Board member for the Office for Students – the UK higher education regulator – and chairs its Quality Assessment Committee. He is a member of the Advisory Boards of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal, City UK and the International Development Business Exchange, and works with the leadership of the CBI and London First.
