Deputy Head of Clerking
Practice Manager
Assistant Practice Manager
Stephen Moverley Smith KC specialises in litigation and arbitration in the fields of commercial, company, trusts and business law.
Clients refer to him as “as astute as they come, excellent with clients and has a reassuring manner” (Chambers & Partners).
With a background of high profile work for the DTI and Inland Revenue as junior counsel to the Crown (Chancery) prior to taking silk in 2002, Stephen has developed an extensive practice in the fields of hostile corporate and trust litigation, insolvency, civil fraud and joint venture disputes (in both a corporate and partnership context), often for private clients.
Stephen has practiced in the regulatory field for many years and was appointed a Joint Inspector by the DTI (now BERR) to investigate allegations of market abuse. His on-going regulatory work includes cases is in the area of collective Investment schemes and land banking.
Stephen has an extensive off-shore practice, particularly in the British Virgin Islands (since 1995) and Cayman Islands. He is regularly involved in multi-jurisdictional disputes, advising on global strategy, interim remedies, conflicts of law and asset recovery and appearing before courts and arbitral tribunals in a wide variety of jurisdictions.
Recent notable cases include acting for the successful claimants in Papadimitriou v Credit Agricole, a seminal decision of the Privy Council establishing a new test for constructive notice of beneficial interests; Re: China Shanshui, acting for the majority shareholders in successfully challenging the ability of directors to institute winding up proceedings without shareholder approval; Re Fairfield Sentry, acting for members seeking to establish distribution entitlements in the liquidation of Madoff’s largest investor; TMSF v Merrill Lynch, a ground breaking decision of the Privy Council that a judgment creditor, for whom Stephen acted, could obtain the appointment of receivers over a power of revocation of a Cayman trust and for the Moscow patriachate in a dispute as to the ownership of the Russian Orthodox Cathedral in London.
Arbitration, both domestic and international, is a major feature of Stephen’s practice. Whilst this work is, by its nature, confidential, publicised recent examples include:
Stephen has considerable experience of fund and financial services work which forms a natural extension of his expertise in the international arena and in company, commercial litigation, fraud and insolvency work in particular. He is recommended by Legal 500/2011 and his recent cases include:
Stephen has appeared in numerous cases involving all aspects of civil fraud and asset tracing both in England and overseas. He has extensive experience of the conflict of law and cross-border recognition issues that frequently arise in such cases. Recommended in this area by both Legal 500 and Chambers & Prs and described as “a proper team player, who is creative and innovative in his advice”, recent examples of his practice in this area include:
Stephen Moverley Smith has dealt with all manner of business disputes, amassing particular experience in matters with an international dimension. Legal 500 recommends him as “innovative and creative; he can often find a way for a client where others cannot”, whilst Chambers & Prs recommends him for commercial chancery and offshore work as “a leading performer in the BVI Commercial Court”. He is said to perform “admirably, calmly and coherently in court“.
His more notable cases include:
Stephen Moverley Smith has extensive experience within the company law sphere, as recognised by both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500. Chambers & Partners recommend him as “As astute as they come, excellent with clients and has a reassuring manner”.Whilst regularly advising and acting in relation to all aspects of company law, ranging from boardroom battles and shareholder claims to directors’ disqualification (which he dealt with for many years as a member of the Treasury Solicitor’s ‘A’ Panel). He is particularly renowned for his expertise in relation to complex international joint venture disputes, regularly advising on global strategy, related conflict of law issues and interim remedies.
His many cases include:
Stephen has long been involved in many of the leading hedge fund cases, particularly in the British Virgin Islands. Recommended in the current Legal 500 for Banking & Finance and in Chambers & Prs for commercial chancery and offshore work (his hedge fund expertise being noted), recent examples of his cases include:
With a background acting for the department of trade and industry in relation to public interest winding up petitions and directors’ disqualification, and the inland revenue, environment agency and treasury solicitor in relation to many other aspects of insolvency, Stephen has developed a very extensive business restructuring/ insolvency experience ranging over many years. More recently he has been involved in a wide range of international cases raising cross-border insolvency issues, including the operation of UNCITRAL model law provisions in a variety of jurisdictions and the interplay with Chapter 15 recognition in the US. He is recommended for insolvency in Legal 500 as “accessible and a real team player”, and the current edition of Chambers & Prs notes his “vast experience and understanding of the intricacies of insolvency law” whilst also stating that “his work is always top-notch, his advocacy is really effective and clients like his mix of gravitas and approachability”.
His recent cases include:
Stephen Moverley Smith is regularly involved in property related litigation of which his most notable recent cases include:
As a leading commercial Chancery barrister recommended by both the current editions of Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, Stephen has very considerable experience of trust, probate and estate matters. According to Legal 500, he “combines astonishing intellectual ability with sound judgement and approachability”. While many of his cases are highly confidential, the following examples provide an indication of the scope of his practice:
Restructuring/Insolvency
Chambers & Partners
‘Stephen is affable and easy to deal with. He is particularly knowledgeable in BVI-related matters.’ (2025)
‘He’s sensible, measured and approachable.’ (2022 – UK and Global)
‘He’s an excellent barrister and a pleasure to work with. He has a wonderful personality, he is very engaging and his written work is outstanding.’ ‘A very creative thinker who is very familiar with both the offshore and onshore worlds.’ (2021 – UK and Global)
Legal 500
Leading silk. (2025)
‘Stephen is a first-class barrister. He is able to get up to speed with really complicated matters quickly and provide clear concise advice.’ (2023)
‘A real legal heavyweight, he brings a wealth of experience to issues and is able to provide practical solutions to knotty legal problems.’ (2022)
‘He has a razor-sharp intellect and is able to cut through complicated legal and factual matters with ease.’ (2021)
Chancery: Commercial
Chambers & Partners
‘Stephen is highly experienced and fantastic to deal with. He is incredibly personable, very bright and highly persuasive.’ ‘Stephen remains consistently cool under pressure. He is resolute and has great intellectual stamina. (2025)
‘Brings an assured gravitas to the courtroom.’ (2023)
‘Clients really appreciate his input and sensible advice. His advice is always tailored to the individual client’s concerns.’ (2022 – UK and Global)
‘He’s very experienced, efficient and knows the court and the judges.’ (2021 – UK and Global)
Fraud: Civil
Chambers & Partners
‘Stephen has breath-taking delivery in court: no grandstanding or theatrics, just pure acid delivery.’ (2025)
‘Stephen has such a strategic and creative eye.’ ‘Stephen is very creative with his strategy and good with his assessment of which arguments will run and which will not. He gives practical and expedient advice.’ ‘He is very experienced and knowledgeable.’ (2023)
‘An impressive advocate and a heavy hitter.’ (2022)
‘He combines a wealth of experience in English and Caribbean litigation, thus making him a perfect counsel for cross-border litigation in the Caribbean region.’ ‘He knows the BVI court rules and culture really well.’ (2021)
Legal 500
‘Stephen is a go-to silk for all manner of offshore disputes.’ (2025)
‘Very easy to work with and excellent at identifying an approach which will resonate with the court.’ (2022)
‘Extremely responsive and able to articulate complex arguments in a persuasive and attractive manner. His gentle approach in submissions seems to have the ears of the judges.’ (2021)
Offshore
Chambers & Partners
‘Stephen is very accomplished, enthusiastic and tenacious in how he pursues arguments and points. He’s user-friendly and authoritative.’ ‘He’s a very persuasive, measured advocate who gets the ear of the tribunal.’ (2025)
‘He is one of the most experienced offshore lawyers. Stephen is particularly good for difficult cases because he is very creative with his strategy and gives practical and expedient advice.’ ‘He is a legend in the offshore world.’ ‘He brings a kind of assured gravitas to the courtroom. Barristers and judges who are looking for someone to say something sensible will look to him.’ (2023)
‘He really is responsive and always comes back with very sharp, mindful comments.’ (2022 – UK and Global)
‘An excellent advocate who is very persuasive on his feet.’ ‘Very hands-on, diligent and a very safe pair of hands.’ (2021 – UK and Global)
The Legal 500
‘A real flair for advocacy. Energetic, engaged and enthusiastic.’ (2025, 2024)
‘Stephen is a consummate professional and extremely well versed in everything BVI, with a complete knowledge of the law but more importantly in some ways, how the jurisdiction operates and the personalities of the judges, both in the commercial court and the Court of Appeal. This can be fundamental to how a case is presented. He is also extremely approachable, user-friendly and knowledgeable which immediately puts clients at ease.’ (2023)
‘A real legal heavyweight, he always has a clever perspective to add to any case.’ (2022)
‘He has a razor-sharp intellect and is able to cut through complicated legal and factual matters with ease.’ (2021)
Commercial Dispute Resolution
Chambers & Partners
‘He is absolutely superb and combines sharp commercial acumen with a deep understanding of relevant case law.’ (2025)
‘Stephen is very knowledgeable and very commercial. He has a real feel for the commercial reality of the cases he works on.’ (2023)
‘A modern QC, who is very involved and engaged; he really gets stuck in. He is calm, assured and someone who instils confidence.’ (2022 – UK and Global)
‘Has a wealth of experience of dealing with both English and Caribbean litigation, and is the perfect counsel for cross-border court proceedings.’ ‘He has very good client-handling skills.’ (2021 – UK and Global)
Legal 500
‘His advocacy is clear and calm. He does not get ruffled, even in heated hearings. First class.’ (2023)
‘He has impressive court room presence and brings a wealth of experience to his cases. User-friendly across the team and with clients.’ (2022)
‘A genuinely good fellow, his gentle approach in submissions seems to have the ears of the Judges.’ (2021)
Banking & Finance
Legal 500
‘Stephen is an excellent commercial barrister. His advocacy is top-notch in complicated cases. He is also great at reading the court and figuring out which strategy will work.’ (2025)
‘Stephen is a first-class barrister. He is able to get up to speed with really complicated matters quickly and provide clear concise advice. His oral advocacy is also impressive.’ (2023)
‘He has impressive court room presence and brings a wealth of experience to his cases. User friendly across the team and with clients.’ (2022)
‘Very good and remains my first choice.’ (2021)
Company & Partnership
Legal 500
‘Stephen displays an uncanny ability to make just the right points at just the right moment.’ (2025)
‘Stephen has been doing BVI work for over two decades. He knows the law and procedure inside out.’ (2023)
‘He always has a clever perspective to add to any case.’ (2022)
‘Very sharp mind. Great clarity in drafting. Tactical nous.’ (2021)
Private Client: Trusts and Probate
Legal 500
Leading silk. (2025)
‘Stephen is technically brilliant, commercially and emotionally astute and is able to handle difficult clients with consummate ease. He also goes out of his way to collaborate with the solicitors instructing him, making himself available at short notice and generally ensuring the smooth running of a case.’ (2023)
‘Utterly and disarmingly charming. He has a razor sharp mind and is a brilliant barrister.’ (2021)
Commercial Litigation
Legal 500
‘A pleasure to work with and highly recommended.’ (2025)
