Peter de Verneuil Smith KC

Peter is well known for his excellent advocacy and client skills. He is frequently the lead advocate in large and complex litigation (including claimant and defendant GLOs) and arbitration and was the lead counsel in the $350 million claim under s.90A(FSMA) against Tesco which settled in 2020. Between 2016 - 2017 he acted in the RBS Rights Issue litigation. His practice spans pure banking disputes (including derivative, mis-selling, duties of care owed by a bank, and unjust enrichment) and banking related litigation such as shipbuilding finance, performance bonds and guarantees. He has appeared in major fraud cases (including Group Seven Ltd v Nasir, Tatneft v Bogolyubov and NML v Chapman Freeborn) and often seeks urgent injunctive relief to support domestic and foreign proceedings. His commercial work includes company disputes (unfair prejudice, derivative actions, breach of director duty) and breach of trust claims. He is regularly involved in financial services disputes including tax scheme litigation (the GlobalCure scheme), collective investment schemes and FSMA related claims. His cases frequently involve offshore centres and he has worked in Guernsey, the Cayman Islands, BVI, and Bermuda. His arbitration practice is a mix of energy, finance and project disputes with London, Paris, SIAC and DIFC seats.

Called to the Bar in 1998

Selwyn College Cambridge.