Simon Cowell faces High Court claim over £100,000 napkin deal dispute
Ian Rosenblatt seeks payment or damages after alleging Cowell breached a handwritten agreement signed in 2023
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Simon Cowell is facing legal action in the High Court over an alleged business agreement written on a napkin. Ian Rosenblatt, who worked as Cowell’s business adviser from 2018, claims he is owed a percentage of a confidential deal made in 2025. He is seeking either payment or £100,000 in damages for breach of contract.
Rosenblatt, who is also a lawyer, helped transfer shares in Cowell’s company SyCo Entertainment from Sir Philip Green and Sony, leaving Cowell with full ownership by July 2020. He was later appointed a director of SyCo but resigned in late 2022, citing difficulties working with Cowell.
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The napkin agreement
Katherine Ratcliffe, representing Rosenblatt, told the court that in October 2022, the two men met for dinner at Cowell’s London home. During the meal, they reached an oral agreement about Rosenblatt receiving a percentage of future deals. Ratcliffe said the terms were then written on a napkin and signed by Cowell.
The handwritten agreement allegedly set out that Rosenblatt would receive 8% of any deal over $30 million, 10% over $50 million, and 15% over $100 million. In February 2023, the napkin agreement was formalised in writing and signed by Cowell at his Cotswolds home, according to Ratcliffe.
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Rosenblatt claims he invoiced Cowell in 2025 but has not been paid. Ratcliffe said the invoice remains unpaid in breach of the agreement. Cowell has not yet filed a defence to the claim, and his spokesperson declined to comment when approached by the PA News Agency.
What happens next
The case is expected to proceed in the High Court. Cowell has until a yet-to-be-confirmed date to file a defence. If the court rules in Rosenblatt’s favour, Cowell could be ordered to pay the £100,000 damages or the outstanding invoice amount, depending on the value of the 2025 deal.
“By September 2022 Mr Rosenblatt intended to formally resign as director of Syco, and cease providing business advisory services to Mr Cowell, because of how challenging he had found working with Mr Cowell.”
Katherine Ratcliffe, representing Ian Rosenblatt
Questions this report answers
+What is Simon Cowell being sued for?
Ian Rosenblatt claims Cowell breached a handwritten agreement by not paying him a percentage of a 2025 deal. Rosenblatt is seeking £100,000 in damages or payment of the invoice. The case is being heard in the High Court.
+How much money is Ian Rosenblatt claiming?
Rosenblatt is seeking either payment of an unpaid invoice or £100,000 in damages. The invoice relates to an alleged agreement that he would receive 8-15% of deals over $30 million.
+Has Simon Cowell responded to the claim?
Cowell has not yet filed a defence to the claim. His spokesperson declined to comment when approached by the PA News Agency. The case is expected to proceed in the High Court.
+What was the napkin agreement?
The alleged agreement, written on a napkin in 2022 and later formalised in writing, set out that Rosenblatt would receive 8% of deals over $30 million, 10% over $50 million, and 15% over $100 million. Cowell signed it, according to court documents.
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