Gavin Smith has three decades’ experience as a specialist family law barrister, dealing with all types of financial remedy proceedings following relationship breakdown.
Gavin now focusses full time on his established practice as an arbitrator and private FDR evaluator. In DB v DLJ [2016] EWHC 324 (Fam), Mr Justice Mostyn referred to Gavin’s arbitration award as ‘a thorough, conscientious and clear piece of work. Its quality is a testament to the merit of opting for arbitration.’
Gavin is available to undertake arbitrations of all kinds, from single-issue disputes to those involving the full range of financial remedy claims, and from high value cases to ones where the parties’ resources are modest.
He is also an experienced private FDR evaluator, assisting couples on separation by giving them an assessment of the likely outcome in their case, and thus providing them with a basis for a negotiated settlement.
Gavin sits as a Deputy District Judge in the Financial Remedies Court on the Midland Circuit, where he has been authorised to hear the more complex cases.
Notable cases:
Publications:
Called 1981; Middle Temple
French; working knowledge German.
Downside School; Corpus Christi College, Oxford (MA).
Directory Recommendations - Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 2024 and 2025
“Gavin is a go-to arbitrator for all complex cases. He demonstrates outstanding proficiency in managing complex disputes with a balanced and insightful approach. His keen analytical skills, coupled with an impressive depth of legal knowledge, make him a standout professional.”
“Gavin is a very accomplished operator. He has an excellent manner with both the professional and lay parties to his hearings and has an excellent track record in achieving settlement."
"He was incredibly well prepared and very patient. He got the detail of the case and was very, very considered in his manner."
"He was authoritative without being overbearing and good at managing the situation. He managed matters in an empathetic way and produced a very well-reasoned decision."
“He will proactively help you case manage collectively rather than making one party feel pitted against the other. Someone who makes the process accessible and always seeks to assist, he’s very good at getting involved from day one, putting forward suggestions to make the most of the time available. When it’s all finished he takes the time to speak with clients and explain his indication to them at a personal level – clients come away from an arbitration with him feeling that whatever happens they’ve had the best chance possible to have a sensible outcome. He’s very attuned to how emotional these proceedings can be and he’ll do his best to put everyone at ease.”