Tom Montagu-Smith

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”].

Lincoln College, Oxford (MA).