Phil Smith > Simons Muirhead Burton > London, England > Lawyer Profile
Simons Muirhead Burton Offices
87-91 Newman Street
LONDON
W1T 3EY
England
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Phil Smith
Work Department
Crime and Regulatory (joint-head)
Position
Partner with over 25 years’ experience in high stakes criminal cases, often requiring sensitive handling and a strategic approach to crisis manage the potential reputational impact.
Career
Trained and qualified in 1993 at Edward Fail, Bradshaw & Waterson; solicitor at Tuckers initially from 1996, Partner and Head of Private Crime Department 2009-2017
Languages
English
Memberships
Fraud Lawyers Association; London Criminal Courts Solicitors Association
Education
Arnold School, Lancashire 1973-1987; Cardiff University 2(i) LLB (Hons) 1990; College of Law 1991
Leisure
14 handicap golfer; swimming; the arts; fine-dining; Sabreur
Lawyer Rankings
London > Crime, fraud and licensing > Crime: general
(Leading individuals)The crime and regulatory practice at Simons Muirhead Burton offers clients particular expertise in media matters and frequently advises household media celebrities, as well as assisting clients on criminal issues such as sexual assault, perverting the course of justice, and harassment, with a wealth of experience advising well-known musicians. Phil Smith heads the team, with skills described as ‘first-rate‘. Anthony Burton CBE, founding partner of the criminal department, is recommended for representing individuals on death row by virtue of his work as chair of the Death Penalty Project NGO, with his case-handling described as ‘exceptional‘. Senior associate Henrietta Ronson is described as a ‘standout individual‘, with ‘unparalleled domain expertise‘ in media-related criminal matters.
London > Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: white-collar crime (advice to individuals)
Acting for clients across technology, finance, and property industries, Simons Muirhead Burton’s team ‘remains a market leader’ in the white-collar crime space, advising on complex fraud and money laundering matters. The practice is especially renowned for its work concerning financial crime allegations, regularly defending individuals in HMRC-led investigations and addressing UK sanctions. Practice head Phil Smith routinely guides clients through high-profile fraud and corruption cases, while Anthony Burton focuses on domestic and international financial crime issues. Henrietta Ronson and David Phillips are also highly regarded.
Lawyer Rankings
- Crime: general London > Crime, fraud and licensing
- Leading individuals London > Crime, fraud and licensing > Crime: general
- Fraud: white-collar crime (advice to individuals) London > Crime, fraud and licensing
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Crime: general
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Theatre, publishing and other media
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Reputation management
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Digital content & social
Firm Rankings
- Public sector > Civil liberties and human rights
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Film & TV
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Music
- Private client > Family
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Franchising
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: white-collar crime (advice to individuals)
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: Smaller Deals, £10m-£100m
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: mid-market
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design