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.

The Hearing: It’s a big year for South Square

Welcome to this week’s edition of The Hearing, your insider’s guide to the UK litigation market. This week, why two barristers shifting chambers symbolises the struggles small sets are facing, and as the weather (finally) looks set to improve, you might find yourself inspired to take on cricket’s most exciting new role. South Square’s big […]

microphone at theatre

Claim Spotter: Comedian lines up Soho Theatre defamation suit

Comedian sues Soho Theatre over alleged defamation Comedian Paul Currie has filed a part 7 – defamation claim against London’s Soho Theatre. The Belfast performer attracted headlines in February after a Jewish attendee to his show at the Theatre was allegedly told to “get out” and left after feeling “unsafe” and “threatened.” The theatre subsequently […]

Liverpool and Arsenal

Arsenal and Liverpool battle on as six Premier League clubs settle mega-insurance case

Six Premier League clubs have settled a mega-Covid-19 business interruption case with their insurers. Since March, Aston Villa, Brighton, Crystal Palace, Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham have all settled for confidential amounts with some of the world’s largest insurers. The most recent settlement was agreed between Leicester City and Aviva Insurance at the […]

The Hearing: A warning to mass claim lawyers

Welcome to this week’s edition of The Hearing, your insider’s guide to the UK litigation market. This week, we break down a brutal costs decision, bring you another example of just how big competition litigation is now, and tell you which judgment of the year’s biggest cases is expected as soon as today. A costs […]

sheet music guitar

Claim Spotter: O’Melveny and Dorsey on call in musical disputes

O’Melveny & Myers files fresh claim for sheet music publisher Hal Leonard O’Melveny & Myers has brought a new breach of contract claim on behalf of sheet music publisher Hal Leonard Europe against classical music publisher Wise Music Group and its subsidiaries. The claim comes just two months after Wise Music Group, which The Lawyer […]

The Lawyer Podcast: Election special

Labour won. Now what? As Keir Starmer walks into Downing Street, The Lawyer Podcast boils up a vat of coffee and brings you an election results show for lawyers. With special guests including former Clifford Chance partner and tax celebrity Dan Neidle, we discuss which lawyers are in and out of Parliament after a night […]

Serco

The Hearing: Securities is the new competition

Welcome to this week’s edition of The Hearing, your weekly insider’s guide to the UK litigation market. This week, McDermott Will & Emery is making inroads into London’s litigation market, and arbitration numbers continue to rise. But first, are securities cases the new competition class actions? The wait goes on: Last week’s development that Serco […]

Coldplay

Coldplay settles multimillion-pound case with former manager

Coldplay has settled its multimillion-pound dispute with former manager David Holmes, The Lawyer can reveal. Holmes, who managed the band for 17 years from 2005 to 2022, initially sued band members Chris Martin, Will Champion, Jonny Buckland and Guy Berryman for £10m in August last year. Engaging Bird & Bird’s London office head Phil Sherrell, […]

The Lawyer Podcast: Addleshaws and the myths of the mid-market

The doom of the middle market has long been foretold. As global mergers grab attention and smaller, boutique firms blossom, many question whether there is any role for mid-market practices in law’s future. But on Tuesday evening, Addleshaw Goddard marked a remarkable, decade-long turnaround as it was crowned Law Firm of the Year at The […]

The Hearing: Mishcon, Pallas, Beer KC and Monckton sweep the awards

Welcome to The Hearing, your weekly insider’s guide to the UK litigation market. On Tuesday evening, around 1,000 people dressed in their finery descended on London’s Park Lane for the annual The Lawyer awards. The four awards dedicated to disputes lawyers celebrated litigation’s best performances over the past year, with Mishcon de Reya, Pallas Partners, […]

The Premier League has backed itself into a corner

News this month that Manchester City is suing the Premier League over its rules cemented what most punters already knew: English football is now a lawyer’s game. As The Lawyer revealed shortly after, three clubs are backing the claim in various ways. Last week, Aston Villa’s owner said he was seeking legal advice about complaining against the rules. […]