Legal Clarity for Fast-Moving Brands.

I’m Hugh Simson (LLB/B.Bus), Legal Practice Director at Simson Legal. I’m a lawyer, yes - but I’m also a founder, operator, and commercial strategist who’s scaled real businesses from scratch. I know how hard it is to turn an idea into something real. And I know how legal can either help you move faster or completely slow you down.

At Simson Legal, I help brands, creatives, and product-based businesses get the legal support they need to scale with confidence - without the corporate theatre, inflated fees, or vague advice.

(LLB/B.Bus)

I’m Hugh Simson .

I Don’t Just Know the Law. I’ve Lived the Business.

The founder journey isn’t linear. It’s fast, messy, and unpredictable.

One day you’re sketching ideas. The next, you’re hiring staff, managing freight issues, or negotiating a retail deal you’re not sure you understand. I’ve been there. And I’ve navigated it from every side.

But it hasn’t all been wins. I’ve lived the chaos too.

Partnership breakdowns. Business closures. Raising capital under pressure. Hiring and firing staff, agencies, and contractors. Tough calls. Tougher lessons.

My path looked like this:

  • 1998, Hugh JNR

    Started my first clothing brand while studding Bachelor of Business and a Bachelor of Law at University. Designed, sourced, printed by hand and sold product from the ground up

  • 2004, T.O.Y. + T.O.Y. COLLECTIVE

    Opened my first retail boutique. Scaled to 5 stores across Queensland. Managed staff, leases, suppliers, and day-to-day operations.

  • 2005, LAWYER

    Admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of QLD. Joined a boutique law firm and became Senior Associate. Focused on Personal Injury Litigation, contracts, commercial and business advice.

  • 2012, Princess Yachts Australia

    Appointed CFO, then General Manager. Held in-house legal responsibility and negotiated multimillion-dollar contracts across marine, real estate, and luxury asset sectors.

  • 2017, Founder – High-Performance Coaching & Corporate Wellness

    At the start of 2017, I stepped out of law and operations to launch a coaching business focused on health, mindset, and performance.
    I ran workshops for top-tier firms, coached execs 1:1, published two books (Rule Your Routine and The Man Journal), and built an online program for busy professionals.

  • 2018, Griffith University

    Lectured in Foundations of Law. Helped shape the next generation of legal professionals.

  • 2019, URBANX

    Served as Consulting COO for a high-growth real estate tech startup. Focused on scaling operations, hiring, and structuring the business for investment.

  • 2020 HALO Hydration, New York

    Director of Business Operations. Brought in during a major pivot, I helped shift HALO from B2B to a DTC and Amazon-led model.
    Rebuilt operations, led the Amazon strategy, overhauled logistics, and helped drive sharp revenue growth in a tough market.

  • 2020 - Current, Consumer Brands & Founder Advisory

    Launched and scaled multiple consumer brands in DTC, retail, and wellness. Worked hands-on with founders as a legal advisor, commercial strategist, and operational lead.

  • 2021 - CURRENT Gevity Rx

    Head of Strategic Growth and Equity Partner. Led national sales, rebuilt the go-to-market strategy, negotiated and secured major retail chain distribution and restructured internal ops and legal frameworks.

  • Simson Legal

    Founded Simson Legal to bring it all together. A modern legal practice for founders, creatives, and consumer brands - grounded in law, built for speed, and shaped by real-world brand-building experience.

    I’ve sat in the founder seat, scaled operations, led legal and finance teams, and closed multi-million dollar deals.

    That’s why my legal advice is practical, commercial, and focused on protecting your momentum - not slowing it down.

  • Your brand didn’t come from a boardroom. It came from a problem you wanted to solve, a gap you saw, or a vision no one else believed in.

    I’ve built brands from scratch and worn every hat along the way:
    Founder → Product developer → Sales lead → Freight wrangler → Legal damage controller.

    I know what it’s like to move fast with limited resources and no blueprint. I also know how overwhelming it feels when the next move has legal risk and you’re not sure who to ask.

    That’s where I come in.

    Not legal fluff. Not panic-mode Googling.
    Just clear, strategic legal support built for founders - so you can stay focused on growth.

  • Founders usually come to me in one of three scenarios:

    • You’re growing fast and need to get serious about your legal structure, contracts, or compliance

    • You’re about to pitch a retailer, sign a distributor, or scale your ops and need someone to pressure test things

    • Or you’re cleaning up after things have already gone a bit sideways and need help setting it straight

    Whatever the stage, I meet you where you are. No judgment. No fluff. Just sharp, practical legal support that fits how you actually work and what your brand actually needs.

  • Not every lawyer gets creative business models. I do.

    I’ve built brand-first ventures, worked with content creators, and helped IP-led businesses protect their value without killing their vibe. Whether you’re an agency, solo creator, influencer, or digital brand - I’ll help you lock down the legal side without losing what makes your business special.

    Contracts that reflect how you actually work. Usage rights that protect your IP. Commercial structures that leave room for growth.

  • Because I’m not guessing. I’ve sat where you sit. I know how legal risks show up in the real world and how to get in front of them without spending 10 grand on a six-page memo.

    Because I’ve worked in-house, built from scratch, and scaled brands. I speak founder, sales, ops, and legal - fluently.

    And because I don’t waste time. I get you what you need, clearly, quickly, and built for execution.

  • The faster you grow, the more your legal foundations matter.

    At Simson Legal, I give you legal support that’s:

    • Sharp

    • Strategic

    • Easy to work with

    • Built for real-world scale

    If you’re a founder, creator, or brand operator moving fast and you want to keep it that way let’s work together.

LET'S CHAT