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Jonathan Smith

Jonathan Smith

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Dentons

Dentons

England - London • Transport

1

Rail

Dentons’ rail practice draws on a broad team with deep coverage across infrastructure, rolling stock, and regulatory work. Recent instructions reflect the breadth of the team’s experience, with the firm advising on bids for high-profile rail concessions, including the Elizabeth Line, and acting on major infrastructure projects such as Crossrail and HS2. Matthew Hanslip-Ward leads the team as head of rail, leaning upon vast sector knowledge. Hanslip-Ward continues to lead the work advising on the Crossrail Elizabeth Line concession and the major East West Rail project, one of the UK’s largest recent rail developments. Mark Macaulay, based in Glasgow, is another important member of the practice, while Jonathan Smith continues to develop his practice in franchising/concessions and rolling stock matters, contributing to some of the team’s most significant matters.
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Phone
+44 20 7246 7274
Email
[email protected]
Profile
dentons.com

Profile

Work Department
Energy, Transport and Infrastructure
Position

Jonathan is a senior associate in Dentons' Energy, Transport and Infrastructure practice, based in the London office. He specifically works within the Rail team and has advised on franchise bids, rolling stock procurement and infrastructure projects. Clients include MTR Corporation, CAF, GB Railfreight and Network Rail.

Jonathan has previously completed two secondments: one to ABN AMRO Bank within their Energy, Commodities and Transport team and his second at Dentons' Muscat office within the Projects and Banking practice.

Jonathan has also advised clients in the defense, nuclear and postal sectors, including the Ministry of Defence, Royal Mail and the Low Level Waste Repository.

Career
  • Senior Associate, Dentons (2016 to date)
  • Associate, Dentons (2014 – 2016)
  • Lawyer, Dentons (2011 – 2014)
  • Trainee, Dentons (2009 – 2011)
Memberships
  • Young Rail Professionals Committee Member
Education
  • College of Law, Birmingham, 2008, LLB (Hons)
  • University of Warwick, 2006, BSc, (Hons)

Content supplied by Dentons

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Wide experience both within the industry and relevant sectors. An innovative, collaborative partnership.’

    ‘Ability to use the wide experience of the industry and relevant sectors along with access to specialist resources when required.'

    ‘The exceptional level of knowledge surrounding rail and associated contracts is second to none.’

    ‘The key individuals we work with deliver a tailored approach after working together for many years.'

Key clients

  • MTR Corporation / MTR Corporation (Crossrail) Limited Deutsche Bahn Virgin Network Rail Infrastructure Limited ("Network Rail") Alstom Transport for London GB Railfreight Govia Thameslink Department for Transport East West Rail

Work highlights

Continuing work on the £18 billion+ Crossrail Elizabeth Line concession, still the biggest of its kind, and on MTR's bid for the new Elizabeth Line Concession 2.
Work on the £3 billion rolling stock InterCity Express Programme for the Department for Transport.
Act for East West Rail, on the new c.£5 billion railway to be constructed between Cambridge and Oxford (and beyond), representing a strategic new rail connection and the largest of its kind in the market.