Joe Smouha KC

Joe Smouha KC is widely recognised as one of the leading silks at the Commercial Bar and as an advocate in international litigation and arbitration with recognised standing across multiple practice areas. He is joint Head of Essex Court Chambers.

Joe’s high-profile practice spans a vast array of fields in international and domestic commercial law. He appears regularly in the High Court and appellate courts of England and Wales, in international arbitrations globally, and in international commercial courts and offshore jurisdictions, including Singapore, Bermuda, the BVI and the Cayman Islands. He is regularly appointed as arbitrator in commercial and investment arbitrations, including ICC, LCIA, ICSID, SCC, UNCITRAL and ad hoc arbitrations.

In the leading legal directories, Joe is identified as one of 20 Stars at the Bar (Chambers and Partners UK Bar Guide 2023) and holds rankings across eight practice areas, including Star Individual or Band 1 rankings in Commercial Dispute Resolution and Litigation, International Arbitration (Counsel and Arbitrators), Banking & Finance, Civil Fraud, and Art & Cultural Property Law, with rankings in Chancery (Commercial), and Offshore. Joe was named the International Arbitration Silk of the Year at the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners Awards in October 2023. Joe is described as the “best of the best,” “An elite barrister – absolutely top-drawer.” “One of the true heavyweights of the current commercial bar” and “a top-flight advocate who gives impeccable client service.”

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

UK-Bar

Commercial Dispute Resolution - London (Bar)

Star Individuals

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Chancery: Commercial - London (Bar)

Band 1

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Art and Cultural Property Law - London (Bar)

Band 1

Individual Editorial

Joe Smouha KC of Essex Court Chambers has a superb reputation for his work as a commercial silk, including on art-related matters concerning authenticity, title and commission cases.

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International Arbitration: General Commercial & Insurance - London (Bar)

Band 1

Individual Editorial

Joe Smouha KC is widely considered to be one of the strongest practitioners at the International Arbitration Bar due to his extensive experience in handling notable commercial disputes under a number of prominent arbitral institutions including the ICC and LCIA. He also takes appointments as a commercial arbitrator. His advocacy experience includes court appearances in the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands.

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Fraud: Civil - London (Bar)

Band 1

Individual Editorial

Joe Smouha KC is a skilled commercial silk who champions clients' interests in domestic and international courtroom trials and arbitrations. He acts for a broad range of both claimants and defendants in significant fraud matters that often have international elements.

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International Arbitration: Arbitrators - London (Bar)

Band 1

Individual Editorial

Joe Smouha KC of Essex Court Chambers is a highly reputed international arbitrator, appointed in ad hoc arbitrations, as well as under principal arbitral bodies such as the ICC, the LCIA and ICSID. He specialises in hearing commercial disputes and has notable experience acting in arbitrations seated in London and Geneva.

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Banking & Finance - London (Bar)

Band 1

Individual Editorial

Joe Smouha KC is a highly accomplished banking silk with additional expertise in the civil fraud arena. He handles a wide range of financial disputes for major banks and is an accomplished advocate in international arbitrations. Active both domestically and internationally, he has appeared in courts in the BVI and the Cayman Islands.

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Offshore - All Circuits

Band 2

Individual Editorial

Joe Smouha KC has a wealth of experience in international commercial litigation. His offshore portfolio includes cases in the BVI, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. Smouha is an expert in fraud, money laundering and joint venture ownership disputes, to name but a few.

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

When I have the most difficult and largest commercial dispute, he is number one on my speed dial. He is a class apart at the top of the Commercial Bar.

Commercial Dispute Resolution respondent
UK-Bar

A real heavyweight barrister for big-ticket banking litigation and fraud. There's nothing he hasn't seen or done.

Commercial Dispute Resolution respondent
UK-Bar

Joe is a good cross-examiner, who is excellent at strategy.

Chancery: Commercial respondent
UK-Bar

Joe is fantastically commercial, brilliantly clever and quick-thinking, and his advocacy skills are supreme.

Art and Cultural Property Law respondent
UK-Bar

Joe gives absolutely everything to a case and doesn't stop. He is indefatigable, great in court and a brilliant negotiator. Working with him is like a masterclass.

Art and Cultural Property Law respondent
UK-Bar

Joe Smouha is a pre-eminent commercial silk at the Bar. He has a fine intellect and is a superb advocate.

Art and Cultural Property Law respondent
UK-Bar

Joe Smouha is one of the strongest international arbitration practitioners.

International Arbitration: General Commercial & Insurance respondent
UK-Bar

Joe is top-notch in big, complex trials. He has a very good feel for the judge and pitches things just right. He is incredibly smooth otherwise and his cross-examination is very good indeed.

Fraud: Civil respondent
UK-Bar

Joe is a forceful, tactical and elegant advocate. He is quick and surgical. He has a mind like a steel trap and exudes a very understated gravitas in the court. Smooth and elegant, judges respect him.

Fraud: Civil respondent
UK-Bar

Joe lives up to the hype. He has one of the sharpest and fastest brains and the ear of the court. He can see all the legal and tactical aspects of a case and present them in the best way.

Fraud: Civil respondent
UK-Bar

Joe Smouha is phenomenal.

International Arbitration: Arbitrators respondent
UK-Bar

Joe is a class act. He is very good and very strategic.

Banking & Finance respondent
UK-Bar

Trial advocate par excellence, Joe can manage, identify and address all of the angles in complex trial scenarios. He is who you want at the front of a complex trial. He's right at the top of his game.

Banking & Finance respondent
UK-Bar

He very quickly comes to focus on the detailed points and is very responsive.

Banking & Finance respondent
UK-Bar

Joe fully deserves his reputation as a leader of the Bar.

Offshore respondent
UK-Bar

Joe is a class act, he's very, very good. He was brilliant and very strategic for things beyond England.

Offshore respondent
UK-Bar

One of the best advocates at the Bar - superb.

Offshore respondent
UK-Bar

When I have the most difficult and largest commercial dispute, he is number one on my speed dial. He is a class apart at the top of the Commercial Bar.

Commercial Dispute Resolution respondent
UK-Bar

A real heavyweight barrister for big-ticket banking litigation and fraud. There's nothing he hasn't seen or done.

Commercial Dispute Resolution respondent
UK-Bar

Joe is a good cross-examiner, who is excellent at strategy.

Chancery: Commercial respondent
UK-Bar

Joe is fantastically commercial, brilliantly clever and quick-thinking, and his advocacy skills are supreme.

Art and Cultural Property Law respondent
UK-Bar

Joe gives absolutely everything to a case and doesn't stop. He is indefatigable, great in court and a brilliant negotiator. Working with him is like a masterclass.

Art and Cultural Property Law respondent
UK-Bar

Joe Smouha is a pre-eminent commercial silk at the Bar. He has a fine intellect and is a superb advocate.

Art and Cultural Property Law respondent
UK-Bar

Joe Smouha is one of the strongest international arbitration practitioners.

International Arbitration: General Commercial & Insurance respondent
UK-Bar

Joe is top-notch in big, complex trials. He has a very good feel for the judge and pitches things just right. He is incredibly smooth otherwise and his cross-examination is very good indeed.

Fraud: Civil respondent
UK-Bar

Joe lives up to the hype. He has one of the sharpest and fastest brains and the ear of the court. He can see all the legal and tactical aspects of a case and present them in the best way.

Fraud: Civil respondent
UK-Bar

Joe Smouha is phenomenal.

International Arbitration: Arbitrators respondent
UK-Bar

Joe is a class act. He is very good and very strategic.

Banking & Finance respondent
UK-Bar

He very quickly comes to focus on the detailed points and is very responsive.

Banking & Finance respondent
UK-Bar

Joe fully deserves his reputation as a leader of the Bar.

Offshore respondent
UK-Bar

Joe is a class act, he's very, very good. He was brilliant and very strategic for things beyond England.

Offshore respondent
UK-Bar

One of the best advocates at the Bar - superb.