Benjamin SmithAssociate

Dispute Resolution

I advise on all aspects of Dispute Resolution with particular experience of commercial disputes, shareholder and director disputes, civil fraud, competition, cross-border disputes and group litigation.

Whilst I am adept at conducting litigation through the court process my primary focus is to realise my client’s objectives in a manner that is both efficient and practical. Where suitable, I therefore proactively engage with clients to explore alternative dispute resolutions should such processes be more likely to protect my client’s interests. In the event that litigation is necessary I employ experience, strategy and innovative tools to achieve my client’s objectives in a robust yet proportionate manner.

Media & Entertainment

I work alongside businesses and stakeholders from across the Media and Entertainment sector and have recent experience of supporting recording artists, record publishers, artist and label managers, industry intermediaries, festival organisers, publishing houses and industry leading AI music composers.

Through this work I have supported clients on issues including content protection, royalty and/or commission disputes, IP infringement risks, licencing and syncing disputes, supplier disputes and a range of contentious commercial issues.

Sports Business

I advise clients from across the sports industry and am experienced in supporting clubs, players and agencies on contentious and regulatory issues including player transfers, intermediary disputes, commercial enterprises, cross-border litigation and athlete’s rights.

My recent experience includes advising a Premier League football club on overseas enforcement proceedings, resolving various private commercial disputes for leading sportspeople in a confidential manner and representing the agent of one of Formula 1’s pre-eminent drivers in an unpaid commission dispute.

Other Experience

Before joining Lewis Silkin I trained at a multinational law firm and spent time post qualification with a US litigation boutique, where I acted for claimants in follow-on damages litigation against European cartels. I also worked on one of the first “opt-out” collective proceedings brought under the UK regime.

Beyond private practice, I have experience of working in-house having been seconded to Tesco’s Product Legal Team where I supported matters across Food, General Merchandise and International Resourcing.