Region Area

Barristers

Tom Montagu-Smith KC

Tom Montagu-Smith KC

Position

Barrister practicing in commercial litigation and arbitration, including shareholder disputes, civil fraud, banking, insurance and reinsurance and disputes arising out of construction projects. Has particular expertise in cross-border enforcement of judgments and arbitration awards. Appears regularly in London and the DIFC Courts, in addition to arbitration under a wide range of institutional rules. Has also appeared in the ADGM Courts, Singapore International Commercial Court and the Courts of the British Virgin Islands. Sits as a Judge of the Astana International Financial Centre Court, where he wrote the first judgment. Significant cases in England include Kyrgyz Republic v stand Energy [2018] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 66; Watson v Watchfinder.co.uk [2017] Bus LR 1309 and Honeywell International v Meydan [2014] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 133. Has appeared in many leading cases in the DIFC Courts, including SKAT v Elysium Global (2018 – ) [US$2bn fraud claim]; Pearl Petroleum v Kurdistan [2017] DIFC ARB 003 [US$2.1bn arbitration enforcement claim]; Viceroy v Assas Opco (2017 – ) [hotel management]; DNB Bank v Gulf Eyadah [2015] DIFC CA 007 [landmark case on “conduit enforcement”].

Career

Called: 2001; QC 2017; Judge of the AIFC Court 2017; ADGM Arbitration Centre Panel Arbitrator 2019.

Memberships

COMBAR; Chancery Bar Association.

Education

Lincoln College, Oxford (MA).

Mentions

Middle East: The English Bar

Commercial

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Tom Montagu-Smith KC – 3 Verulam Buildings
London Bar

Fraud: civil

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Tom Montagu-Smith KC – 3 Verulam Buildings 'His advocacy style is first class and he has a fantastic grasp of detail.'
London Bar

International arbitration: counsel

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Tom Montagu-Smith KC – 3 Verulam Buildings 'Tom is devastatingly good at dismantling the other side's expert witness. He has a brilliant way of bringing together disparate threads and ensuring that the key points land.'
The English Bar Offshore

The English Bar Offshore

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Tom Montagu-Smith KC – 3 Verulam Buildings 'Tom is a highly analytical lawyer and moderated advocate. He is effective and popular.'