SILK PROFILE

Peter de Verneuil Smith KC

UK Bar 2026

3 Verulam Buildings

Ranked in 6 practice areas

Group Litigation

All Circuits

5 years ranked

Banking & Finance

London (Bar)

8 years ranked

Commercial Dispute Resolution

London (Bar)

19 years ranked

Chancery: Commercial

London (Bar)

10 years ranked

Fraud: Civil

London (Bar)

10 years ranked

International Arbitration: General Commercial & Insurance

London (Bar)

2 years ranked

About

Provided by 3 Verulam Buildings

UK Bar

Practice Areas

Peter de Verneuil Smith is well known for his robust advocacy and excellent client skills. He specialises in complex commercial matters, group litigation, banking and financial services, commercial fraud, international arbitration, company & partnership disputes, professional negligence, private international & offshore (he has appeared in BVI, Caymans and Hong Kong courts), and insurance and reinsurance. He is ranked across multiple directories for his oral advocacy, technical detail and cross-examination skills.

Peter is expert in group litigation disputes and acts for both defendants and claimants.

His caseload involves very high profile (including The Lawyer Top 20) and heavy cases such as the Diesel Emissions claims (acting for a manufacturer), anti-suit injunctions against sanctioned banking entities (acting for the UK bank), PPI group litigation disputes (acting for banks), a $100 million mining rights fraud, Glencore securities litigation (acting for investors), a $1.5bn shareholder dispute which is progressing through LCIA arbitration in Hong Kong and in related disputes in BVI the courts of HK (acting for the minority shareholder).

Career

Called in 1998. Silk in 2019.

Professional Memberships

COMBAR. ChBA. Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Personal

Cambridge University law with European law (BA Hons).

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

UK Bar

Group Litigation - All Circuits

Band 1

Individual Editorial

Peter de Verneuil Smith KC has an extensive group litigation practice and has come to be regarded by some as a go-to resource in the area. He is known for his work in important financial services group claims, some of which have tested the ability of shareholders to bring securities class actions in the UK.

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Banking & Finance - London (Bar)

Band 3

Individual Editorial

Peter de Verneuil Smith KC is a well-regarded silk whose strong commercial chancery practice and expertise in fraud have gained him a burgeoning reputation in finance cases. He is adept at handling large-scale shareholder disputes, cases around securitisations (such as disputes concerning the correct construction of swap terms), and matters regarding loans and guarantees.

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Fraud: Civil - London (Bar)

Band 4

Individual Editorial

Peter de Verneuil Smith KC is a skilled barrister whose mandate of commercial cases extends beyond the UK to such jurisdictions as Switzerland and the UAE. He acts for both claimants and defendants, and is noted for his expertise in obtaining and opposing injunction applications such as freezing orders.

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

Band 4

Individual Editorial

Peter de Verneuil Smith KC is highly sought after for his broad expertise in commercial international arbitrations and related court matters, including enforcement. He is no stranger to advising on billion-dollar disputes, acting in several significantly high-value arbitrations over his career. He is considered a go-to silk for international shareholder disputes. He is called to the Bar of Hong Kong and the BVI.

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Peter is a brilliant mind and very commercial.
Group LitigationUK Bar
Peter is very bright and has a disarming manner in court.
Group LitigationUK Bar
Peter is very on top of the issues in the market.
Group LitigationUK Bar
Peter is positive, upbeat and decisive on strategy.
Banking & FinanceUK Bar
Peter is an excellent advocate; he is clear, concise, logical and responsive.
Banking & FinanceUK Bar
He brings impressive insight and an analytical approach with no waffle.
Banking & FinanceUK Bar