Christian Smith

Christian is the Litigation Editor at The Lawyer, where he covers domestic and global disputes, as well as writing The Hearing and Disputes Signal. He also co-hosts and produces The Lawyer Podcast. Prior to joining The Lawyer, he worked at Times Radio. Christian was a commercial and sports disputes solicitor for several years in London and New Zealand before becoming a journalist.

Singapore firework

The Hearing: It’s awards season in Singapore upon Thames

Welcome to The Hearing, your weekly insider’s guide to the UK’s litigation market. After London International Disputes Week concluded on Friday, normal service has resumed for the UK’s litigators – and what a busy week it is. Not only is the first section 90A FSMA case finally coming to trial in what could be a […]

Manchester City

In court this week: Manchester City, Serco and HSF

Manchester City goes to war with the Premier League Manchester City’s two week case against the Premier League is set to kick off today in London. The four-in-a-row champions launched arbitral proceedings against the governing body back in February, challenging the League’s own rules. Manchester City has long been battling the League over various matters […]

The Lawyer Podcast: WANTED – A female leader

Law firms have long had a problem with gender equality. Partners and senior leaders are weighted heavily towards men, with an average of 2.35 male partner to every female partner in the UK Top 100 firms. However, that number has actually improved in the last five years – down from 2.83 – while the number […]

Newcastle, Chelsea and Everton tipped to back Man City in Premier League clash

Newcastle United, Chelsea and Everton are backing Manchester City to varying degrees in its case against the Premier League, The Lawyer can reveal. Manchester City is challenging the Premier League’s rules, including its Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules, in an arbitration set to kick off on Monday. As shareholders in the League, the Premier League’s […]

Freshfields and Slaughters join the fray in latest Manchester City spat

City giants Slaughter and May and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer are at the heart of an arbitration between Manchester City and the Premier League. Manchester City has long been battling the League over various matters related to the club’s spending. It is set to challenge the Premier League’s rules in a three-member arbitration, set to kick […]

baby toddler money

The Hearing: £150,000? Junior barristers are laughing

Welcome to the Hilary term and welcome back to The Hearing, your weekly insider’s guide to the UK litigation market. As the market gears up for the busy dash to summer, three of The Lawyer’s Top 20 cases are set to hit the courts this month: British American Tobacco’s $800m challenge to PwC over its […]