Smeetesh established Gresham Legal in 2015 with the aim of providing highly client-focused and outcomes-driven dispute resolution services led by experienced and respected lawyers.
Smeetesh’s own practice covers a broad range of areas in both commercial litigation and international arbitration, with a particular emphasis on contract claims, joint venture, shareholder and partnership disputes, civil fraud, IP/IT and international trade. He has over 30 years’ experience and has acted in many complex, high-profile disputes. Much of Smeetesh’s work has an international focus, involving markets such as Russia and the CIS, Central and Eastern Europe, and Asia.
Smeetesh’s practice also includes libel, insolvency, property and construction disputes, and general risk management advisory work.
Prior to setting up Gresham Legal, Smeetesh spent thirteen years at the international law firm Salans (now Dentons), where he was a senior disputes lawyer and the Managing Partner of its London office.
Smeetesh’s representative experience includes:
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Acting for a former shareholder and director of one of Russia’s largest retail bank in proceedings before the Commercial Court in which the bank claimed damages of over US$1 billion. National Bank Trust v Yurov & Ors [2020] EWHC 200 (Comm).
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Acting for Iranian investors against The Republic of Korea in respect of the state’s unsuccessful challenge to an arbitration award made in favour of the investors arising from unlawful termination of the investment agreement. The Republic of Korea v Dayyani & Ors [2019] EWHC 3580 (Comm).
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Acting on a challenge in the Commercial Court against an arbitral tribunal’s award on jurisdiction, involving a claim against Kazakhstan. Ruby Roz Agricol LLP v The Republic of Kazakhstan [2017] EWHC 439 (Comm).
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Acting for a UK holding company of assets in Russia and Poland as Claimant in LCIA arbitration proceedings involving claims for fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of warranties and breach of implied terms, following its acquisition of a Russian business from a UK FTSE 100 company.
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Acting for defendants in related multi-million pound claims in the High Court for a fraudulent misrepresentation arising from a substantial property development project in London. Albesher v Ryan & Ors [2016] EWHC 541 (Comm).
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Acting for a European property company in arbitration proceedings before the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce arising from a failed commercial real estate development in Moscow.
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Acting for a leading Greek energy production and supply company as Claimant in LCIA arbitration proceedings against a subsidiary of a multinational conglomerate involving claims for breach of contract arising from the supply of a defective equipment essential to its operations.
