Joe Smith

Joe is a Senior Associate in CMS Cameron McKenna's Dispute Resolution Group. He has broad experience of domestic and international commercial litigation and arbitration under various rules and laws. He has acted for blue chip clients across a wide range of industry sectors including finance, insurance, energy, telecoms and media.

A member of the firm’s Regulatory & Investigations Group, Joe has particular expertise in advising clients on bribery and corruption matters.  He also advises clients on defamation and corporate reputation issues.         

Relevant experience includes advising:

Bribery & Corruption

• Global publishing group - in connection with internal and external investigations into improper payments made in connection with a World Bank sponsored education project in Africa and advising on settlement negotiations regarding the same.
• Airline catering company - on an internal investigation in connection with allegations of bribery, corruption and money laundering offences.
• UK investment company - advising in relation to allegations of bribery and corruption in the UK and India.

Litigation/International Arbitration

• European investment company – in a multi-party ICC arbitration with an Eastern European state in connection with the privatisation of a state-owned telecoms company.
• Luxembourg property development fund - in disputes governed by ICC arbitration concerning breach of a share purchase agreement for a staged purchase of SPV commercial property-holding companies in Eastern Europe.
• Brazilian telecoms company - in proceedings brought by investment banks in excess of £100 million, involving an application to the London Commercial Court to contest jurisdiction where there were related proceedings in New York and Brazil. 

Defamation/Corporate Reputation

• A major Irish insurer in relation to a libel, obtaining a successful settlement in the form of a printed apology, payment of costs and a substantial donation to charity.
• A UK lender pre- and post- broadcast in relation to several television documentaries, including BBC Inside Out and Channel 4 Dispatches.
• A UK pub company in respect of false and damaging allegations published by a Parliamentary Select Committee.

External Publications

• Co-author of “The dust settles on the Bribery Act”, Fraud Intelligence, June/July 2010
• Co-author of “A change in the wind”, The Commercial Litigation Journal, May/June 2010
• Co-author of “Hard Graft”, Fraud Intelligence, February/March 2010

Education

Bristol University, Law LLB (Hons);
Nottingham Law School, Legal Practice Course (Commendation)