Mr Justice Picken went to school in Wales, and then studied law at University College, Cardiff, and at Magdalene College, Cambridge. He was called to the Bar in 1989. Sir Simon practised commercial law from 7 King’s Bench Walk. He specialised in particular in insurance and re-insurance, and is one of the authors of ‘Good Faith In Insurance Contracts’. He was also heavily involved in shipping, oil and gas, and professional negligence litigation. Sir Simon became a Recorder in 2005, and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2006. He became a Deputy High Court Judge in 2010, and was a Church Commissioner from 2013 to 2015. He has been a High Court Judge since 2015. Sir Simon is closely involved in international judicial relations, representing the Senior Judiciary on the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary, and the High Court in the International Association of Judges. He was a Presiding Judges for the Welsh Circuit from 2018 to 2021.

Sir Simon Picken’s main leisure interests are Rugby Union and Italy.