Band 1
Band 4
About
Provided by Phil Smith
Practice Areas
Phil heads the Crime & Regulatory team. He is a Band One ranked leading individual for Crime, and a leading individual for Financial Crime in Chambers directory, which notes that “Clients applaud his ‘excellent judgement and feel for where the case should be going’”. Phil is consistently acclaimed as “Outstanding in the field” by the Spear’s 500 and has been recognised by the Lawyer Awards in the Client Partner of the year category.
Phil establishes an immediate dialogue with investigating authorities, often successfully making representations to police and specialist agencies not to charge his client.
With over 25 years’ experience in all areas of criminal law, Phil is renowned for his versatility and crisis management when acting for clients with a public profile, coordinating with PR specialists and our defamation department to head off reputational fall out. His clients include HNWIs and prominent figures from the arts, sport, finance, the professions, broadcast and print media, and academia.
He has recently acted for partners in City and US law firms, separately investigated domestically by the NCA and internationally by the U.S. DoJ, FBI and IRS. He successfully represented a former Police and Crime Commissioner on misconduct in public office allegations.
Chambers Review
UK
Phil Smith is head of the crime department at Simons Muirhead Burton. He has vast experience in criminal defence, including serious sexual offence and murder charges, and regularly represents high-profile and high net worth individuals.
Phil Smith acts on complex investigations by the SFO, HMRC and the DOJ, regularly representing senior executives. He is particularly active on matters relating to tax fraud and money laundering.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"His commitment to his clients and their cause really stands out. He is exceptional."
"At all times of the case, he treated me and my family with kindness and care, he was always available 24/7 to talk, care and advise me, and he never wavered. He's a great lawyer."
"He's doing superb work at Simons Muirhead."
"Phil Smith is a sure and steady hand, and his judgement is impeccable. Moreover, he is able to take in competing points of view and blend them into a compelling legal strategy."
"He is extremely intelligent and incisive in his approach to cases."
"A brilliant solicitor with great judgement, Phil understands what matters in a case and drills down into those parts."
"Phil is a great criminal lawyer who guided me and held my hand throughout my case. At all times he treated me and my family with kindness and care and he was always available to talk to and advise me."
"His commitment to his clients and their cause really stands out. He is exceptional."
"At all times of the case, he treated me and my family with kindness and care, he was always available 24/7 to talk, care and advise me, and he never wavered. He's a great lawyer."
"He's doing superb work at Simons Muirhead."
"Phil Smith is a sure and steady hand, and his judgement is impeccable. Moreover, he is able to take in competing points of view and blend them into a compelling legal strategy."
"He is extremely intelligent and incisive in his approach to cases."
"A brilliant solicitor with great judgement, Phil understands what matters in a case and drills down into those parts."
"Phil is a great criminal lawyer who guided me and held my hand throughout my case. At all times he treated me and my family with kindness and care and he was always available to talk to and advise me."
Articles, highlights and press releases
2 items provided by Simons Muirhead Burton
Crime team client Professor Christopher Hennessy cleared of assault
In the Crown Court at Aldersgate House, Central London, our client Christopher Hennessy was cleared of assault occasioning Actual Bodily Harm. The finance professor at a prestigious London university, was unanimously acquitted by a jury who deliberated for just one hour.
SMB’s crime team secures acquittal of baseball umpire in ‘worrying’ case
SMB’s crime team, led by Partner Phil Smith and assisted by Senior Associate Henrietta Ronson and Paralegal Mark Soames, have secured a not guilty verdict at Wood Green Crown Court in a high-stakes case involving a highly-regarded baseball umpire.
Crime team client Professor Christopher Hennessy cleared of assault
In the Crown Court at Aldersgate House, Central London, our client Christopher Hennessy was cleared of assault occasioning Actual Bodily Harm. The finance professor at a prestigious London university, was unanimously acquitted by a jury who deliberated for just one hour.
SMB’s crime team secures acquittal of baseball umpire in ‘worrying’ case
SMB’s crime team, led by Partner Phil Smith and assisted by Senior Associate Henrietta Ronson and Paralegal Mark Soames, have secured a not guilty verdict at Wood Green Crown Court in a high-stakes case involving a highly-regarded baseball umpire.
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