Tom Montagu-Smith QC Joins 3VB

Members of 3VB are pleased to offer a warm welcome to new tenant Tom Montagu-Smith QC.

Tom is a leading commercial silk practicing in both arbitration and litigation, with wide experience of international commercial disputes. Alongside his UK practice, he has a particular presence in the Middle East, where he regularly appears in the DIFC courts.

Tom’s London-based practice encompasses banking and financial services, joint ventures, civil fraud, insurance and reinsurance and major commercial disputes. He has been involved in some of the heaviest and most significant cases before the DIFC Courts in recent years, including Emirates NBD v KBBO; SKAT v Elysium; and Pearl Petroleum v Kurdistan. He is described in the Chambers & Partners Global guide 2021 as being, “A lawyer with a very high success rate, he keeps himself up to date on case law and has a brilliant way with judges.”

Tom drafted the Rules of the DIFC Courts, Dubai World Tribunal and the Courts of the Astana International Financial Centre Courts, where he sits as a judge. He is co-editor of DIFC Courts Practice (2020), the leading work on DIFC law and procedure.

Tom’s arrival considerably strengthens 3VB’s international profile in banking, fraud and insurance and brings market- leading experience in the enforcement of judgments and awards in commercial arbitration.

3VB’s joint Heads of Chambers, Ewan McQuater QC and Adrian Beltrami QC, said, “Tom is a significant hire for us as a set and brings with him a distinguished reputation and notable expertise in the field of UAE arbitration law and practice. We are delighted that he accepted our offer of tenancy and look forward to working alongside him.”  

Tom said, “I’m very excited to be joining 3VB and to continue my practice in the company of the many highly regarded members there.”

Please contact Stephen Penson, Stuart Pullum or one of the Silks Team Practice Managers with any enquiries relating to Tom.