David Smith

DAVID SMITH has a broad practice covering complex commercial litigation, dispute resolution, international arbitration, and contentious regulatory matters.

David’s experience includes proceedings in the High Court and arbitration conducted under London Court of International Arbitration and International Chamber of Commerce rules, as well as assisting clients in Financial Conduct Authority enforcement actions, Serious Fraud Office investigations, and antitrust proceedings before the European Commission. David has also advised clients on the drafting of arbitration clauses in a transactional context.

David is recommended in Legal 500 UK 2026 for Commercial Litigation: Premium and Financial Services: Contentious. He is also recommended in Legal 500 UK 2025 for Commercial Litigation: Premium, and White-Collar Crime, with sources telling the publication “[..] David Smith [is] well above all our expectations. Talented and client/business oriented. Always available.” A previous edition recommended David edition recommended for White-Collar Crime, with clients saying “David is a great senior associate to be praised.”

David has worked with a wide range of clients, including financial institutions, corporates, technology and media firms, and insurers.

Prior to joining Sidley, David trained at a Magic Circle firm, qualifying as an associate in the firm’s litigation and dispute resolution practice in 2017. During his training, he also gained experience in transactional real estate, environment, and planning and was seconded to the firm’s corporate practice in Paris.

Previously, David was a professional cyclist who competed internationally, including for the Great Britain junior team. 

David’s recent representative matters include acting for:

• Darty Holdings SAS as the successful defendant to a £110 million unlawful preference claim brought by the liquidator of CGL Realisations Limited (formerly Comet Group Ltd) in the English High Court and the Court of Appeal (see Darty Holdings SAS v. Geoffrey Carton-Kelly (as additional liquidator of CGL Realisations Limited) [2023] EWCA Civ 1135). The claim is believed to be the largest preference claim by value ever considered by the English Courts.
• The defendant to a breach of contract claim for more than US$200 million in the English Commercial Court.
• An investment management firm in a successful US$65 million arbitration under LCIA rules (London seat) against Ukrainian respondents. The matter concerned enforcing a guarantee and indemnity clause in a facility agreement after the borrower failed to repay more than US$300 million.
• An insurer in defending a US$80 million arbitration under the ICC rules (São Paulo seat), including successfully defending an application for security for costs.
• A publicly listed company in self-reporting allegations of bribery to the Serious Fraud Office as part of a wider investigation involving the U.S. Department of Justice.
• A major pharmaceutical company in a number of internal investigations.
• A global logistics group in several internal investigations and contentious matters.
• Atento in its successful UK restructuring plans.

Some of the above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.

Member of the London Court of International Arbitration