Ian Smith
Call
Call
2003
Expertise
POCA & Asset Recovery
Civil Fraud, Asset Recovery & Enforcement
Corporate Crime
Commercial Litigation
Ian is a commercial litigator, dealing with complex and high value civil cases, usually with an international dimension. Ian represents both corporations and individuals from a diverse range of commercial sectors, and countries.
He is a specialist in asset recovery, anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, anti-tax evasion, financial sanctions laws, risk management and compliance.
Before coming to the bar, Ian practiced as a solicitor in London from 1995 and was a solicitor advocate until his call to the Bar in 2003. He is often instructed by a range of law firms in the UK and overseas.
He is approved and authorised to accept Public Access clients and to Conduct Litigation.
Ian is also well known and highly regarded for his advice to City and other law firms, professional services firms, real estate service firms and financial services firms in relation to their own issues of compliance and reputation management, in particular in relation to anti-corruption, anti-fraud, anti-money laundering, sanctions legislation, anti-tax evasion and related civil and professional liability issues.
He is currently advising several law firms in relation to anti-financial crime compliance issues.
Other Language(s)
German
Other Language(s)
German
“Ian Smith's work is brilliant. He is the go-to man in POCA for when civil law meets criminal law.”
"His strength is that he playing in both the civil world and the criminal world."
“Ian Smith is a commercial litigator and criminal lawyer who has a specialist knowledge of POCA."
"Smith is phenomenal in understanding the Criminal and Civil Bar. Most don't get both. He's willing to make decisions in the POCA world. He's a go-to for POCA."
"Ian Smith is a real scholar and co-editor of the textbook. He's tactically very astute."
"He can turn things around efficiently and is a very effective advocate."
"Ian is very smart and very organised."
"He's really good on civil fraud. He's particularly good where there's a crossover between criminal and civil, because he's familiar with both regimes."
“Ian's attention to detail is second to none, and he insists on each case being investigated to an extremely high standard, meaning that cases are very well put together and no stone is unturned. His advocacy is also excellent.”
“Ian Smith is a civil and criminal fraud specialist comfortable managing complex proceedings involving such issues as asset recovery and money laundering."
”Ian has a stellar intellect, is thoughtful and strategic, and drives litigation."
"Ian is a go-to barrister for civil cases with a criminal crossover. He is the master of dealing with the intricacies involved."
“He is calm under pressure, thoughtful but robust in his advice, and sensitive to the commercial realities of relevant transactions.”
"Ian gives quick and wise practical advice."
"He knows what he's talking about. He's written a book on POCA."
“Ian Smith's work is brilliant. He is the go-to man in POCA for when civil law meets criminal law.”
"His strength is that he playing in both the civil world and the criminal world."
“Ian Smith is a commercial litigator and criminal lawyer who has a specialist knowledge of POCA."
"Smith is phenomenal in understanding the Criminal and Civil Bar. Most don't get both. He's willing to make decisions in the POCA world. He's a go-to for POCA."
"Ian Smith is a real scholar and co-editor of the textbook. He's tactically very astute."
"He can turn things around efficiently and is a very effective advocate."
"Ian is very smart and very organised."
"He's really good on civil fraud. He's particularly good where there's a crossover between criminal and civil, because he's familiar with both regimes."
“Ian's attention to detail is second to none, and he insists on each case being investigated to an extremely high standard, meaning that cases are very well put together and no stone is unturned. His advocacy is also excellent.”
“Ian Smith is a civil and criminal fraud specialist comfortable managing complex proceedings involving such issues as asset recovery and money laundering."
”Ian has a stellar intellect, is thoughtful and strategic, and drives litigation."
"Ian is a go-to barrister for civil cases with a criminal crossover. He is the master of dealing with the intricacies involved."
“He is calm under pressure, thoughtful but robust in his advice, and sensitive to the commercial realities of relevant transactions.”
"Ian gives quick and wise practical advice."
"He knows what he's talking about. He's written a book on POCA."
“Ian Smith's work is brilliant. He is the go-to man in POCA for when civil law meets criminal law.”
"His strength is that he playing in both the civil world and the criminal world."
“Ian Smith is a commercial litigator and criminal lawyer who has a specialist knowledge of POCA."
"Smith is phenomenal in understanding the Criminal and Civil Bar. Most don't get both. He's willing to make decisions in the POCA world. He's a go-to for POCA."
"Ian Smith is a real scholar and co-editor of the textbook. He's tactically very astute."
"He can turn things around efficiently and is a very effective advocate."
"Ian is very smart and very organised."
"He's really good on civil fraud. He's particularly good where there's a crossover between criminal and civil, because he's familiar with both regimes."
“Ian's attention to detail is second to none, and he insists on each case being investigated to an extremely high standard, meaning that cases are very well put together and no stone is unturned. His advocacy is also excellent.”
“Ian Smith is a civil and criminal fraud specialist comfortable managing complex proceedings involving such issues as asset recovery and money laundering."
”Ian has a stellar intellect, is thoughtful and strategic, and drives litigation."
"Ian is a go-to barrister for civil cases with a criminal crossover. He is the master of dealing with the intricacies involved."
“He is calm under pressure, thoughtful but robust in his advice, and sensitive to the commercial realities of relevant transactions.”
"Ian gives quick and wise practical advice."
"He knows what he's talking about. He's written a book on POCA."
Ian Smith : Experience & Expertise
Ian litigates and advising on Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) issues in a range of courts including:
• Court of Appeal
• Criminal Courts (victims’ claims for restitution and compensation, and confiscation)
• Administrative Court (civil recovery, in particular the rights of victims and third parties)
• Business Courts (for example, insurance claims with POCA issues)
• Tax Tribunal (POCA tax assessments)
• Magistrates’ Courts (forfeiture and cash seizure)
• Technical advice in cases in other jurisdictions.
He is also ranked as a leading junior in the legal directories for POCA and Asset Forfeiture.
He acts across the client spectrum, from foreign states, institutions and large corporates, to SMEs and private clients. Many of his fraud cases are cross-border and he regularly works in conjunction with lawyers in other jurisdictions (recent examples include Russia / CIS, Malta, Switzerland, Sweden, the UAE, New Zealand and the US) on multi-jurisdictional claims involving fraud and misfeasance and associated asset-tracing issues including offshore trusts, corporate governance and regulatory issues.
View Quotes
"His strength is that he playing in both the civil world and the criminal world."
Legal 500, 2025 – Tier 1
"Ian Smiths work is brilliant. He is the go-to man in POCA for when civil law meets criminal law."
Chambers and Partners, 2025 – Band 1
"He always provides excellent service, is on top of the case, and knows this area of law."
Chambers and Partners, 2025 – Band 1
"Ian Smith is a commercial litigator and criminal lawyer who has a specialist knowledge of POCA"
| POCA & Asset Forfeiture - Legal 500 2024
"Very experienced and eminently sensible, he knows his stuff and gives the appropriate advice. We did a hearing where the judge bowled him a few googlies and he did very well dealing with them."
| POCA & Asset Forfeiture - Legal 500 2024
"Ian Smith is a commercial litigator and criminal lawyer who has a specialist knowledge of POCA"
| POCA & Asset Forfeiture - Legal 500 2024
"Very experienced and eminently sensible, he knows his stuff and gives the appropriate advice. We did a hearing where the judge bowled him a few googlies and he did very well dealing with them."
| POCA & Asset Forfeiture - Legal 500 2024
"He is supremely knowledgeable."
| POCA & Asset Forfeiture - Legal 500 2024
"He is laser like with his approach and gets right to the heart of the issue. He provides clear, concise and focused advice."
| POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture - Chambers UK 2024
"He always provides excellent service, is on Ian is very knowledgeable about, and experienced in the practical application of the Proceeds of Crime legislation and AML law generally. He is calm under pressure, thoughtful but robust in his advice, and sensitive to the commercial realities of relevant transactions."
| Civil Fraud - Legal 500 2023
"The go-to counsel for the crossover between the criminal and civil world, and he really understand the demands on clients from a practical perspective. He pushes and pushes until he has everything he needs and the cases are always the better for it."
| POCA & Asset Forfeiture - Legal 500 2022
Ian acts both for claimants and defendants in the Business and Property Courts. Many of his cases involve allegations of fraud, corruption and breach of fiduciary duties as well as contract and restitution claims.
Ian is routinely involved in international asset recovery investigations and proceedings, obtaining or defending against freezing orders, search and seizure orders, disclosure orders and letters of request to overseas jurisdictions.
Ian also represents victims of fraud in their relations with the police and prosecuting agencies and in the criminal courts. He is renowned for his expertise in advising on the interaction between civil and criminal investigations and proceedings.
Ranked as a leading junior in civil fraud.
View Cases
View Quotes
The Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse International & Ors [2024] EWHC 1957 (Comm) (aka ‘Tuna Bonds’)
Acted in multi-billion-dollar civil fraud claim that was one of the largest fraud trials to ever come before the Commercial Court.
Acting for a group of energy plc companies in relation to their fraud claims.
SKAT (Danish Customs and Tax Administration dispute)
"Ian is very thorough and tactically astute, with very good judgement."
| Chambers and Partners, 2025
"Hes really good on civil fraud. Hes particularly good where theres a crossover between criminal and civil, because hes familiar with both regimes."
| Chambers and Partners, 2025
"A very thorough junior who demonstrates good judgement."
| Legal 500, 2025
"Ian Smith is a civil and criminal fraud specialist comfortable managing complex proceedings involving such issues as asset recovery and money laundering"
| Civil Fraud - Chambers & Partners 2024
"Ian has a stellar intellect, is thoughtful and strategic, and drives litigation."
| Civil Fraud - Chambers & Partners 2024
"Ian is a go-to barrister for civil cases with a criminal crossover. He is the master of dealing with the intricacies involved."
| Civil Fraud - Chambers & Partners 2024
"Ians attention to detail is second to none, and he insists on each case being investigated to an extremely high standard, meaning that cases are very well put together and no stone is unturned. His advocacy is also excellent."
| Civil Fraud - Legal 500 2024
"Ian Smith is a civil and criminal fraud specialist comfortable managing complex proceedings involving such issues as asset recovery and money laundering. Much of his work pertains to overseas jurisdictions. He is adept at both bringing and defending claims."
| Civil Fraud - Chambers & Partners 2023
"He is laser like with his approach and gets right to the heart of the issue. He provides clear, concise and focused advice."
| Civil Fraud - Legal 500 2023
"He is thorough, strategic, accurate and commercial in his approach. Hes a good advocate who works well under pressure and is trusted by the judges."
| Civil Fraud - Chambers & Partners 2022
"He is calm under pressure, thoughtful but robust in his advice, and sensitive to the commercial realities of relevant transactions."
| Civil Fraud - Legal 500 2022
Ian Smith : Experience & Expertise
Ian litigates and advising on Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) issues in a range of courts including:
• Court of Appeal
• Criminal Courts (victims’ claims for restitution and compensation, and confiscation)
• Administrative Court (civil recovery, in particular the rights of victims and third parties)
• Business Courts (for example, insurance claims with POCA issues)
• Tax Tribunal (POCA tax assessments)
• Magistrates’ Courts (forfeiture and cash seizure)
• Technical advice in cases in other jurisdictions.
He is also ranked as a leading junior in the legal directories for POCA and Asset Forfeiture.
He acts across the client spectrum, from foreign states, institutions and large corporates, to SMEs and private clients. Many of his fraud cases are cross-border and he regularly works in conjunction with lawyers in other jurisdictions (recent examples include Russia / CIS, Malta, Switzerland, Sweden, the UAE, New Zealand and the US) on multi-jurisdictional claims involving fraud and misfeasance and associated asset-tracing issues including offshore trusts, corporate governance and regulatory issues.
Quotes
"His strength is that he playing in both the civil world and the criminal world."
Legal 500, 2025 – Tier 1
"Ian Smiths work is brilliant. He is the go-to man in POCA for when civil law meets criminal law."
Chambers and Partners, 2025 – Band 1
"He always provides excellent service, is on top of the case, and knows this area of law."
Chambers and Partners, 2025 – Band 1
"Ian Smith is a commercial litigator and criminal lawyer who has a specialist knowledge of POCA"
| POCA & Asset Forfeiture - Legal 500 2024
"Very experienced and eminently sensible, he knows his stuff and gives the appropriate advice. We did a hearing where the judge bowled him a few googlies and he did very well dealing with them."
| POCA & Asset Forfeiture - Legal 500 2024
"Ian Smith is a commercial litigator and criminal lawyer who has a specialist knowledge of POCA"
| POCA & Asset Forfeiture - Legal 500 2024
"Very experienced and eminently sensible, he knows his stuff and gives the appropriate advice. We did a hearing where the judge bowled him a few googlies and he did very well dealing with them."
| POCA & Asset Forfeiture - Legal 500 2024
"He is supremely knowledgeable."
| POCA & Asset Forfeiture - Legal 500 2024
"He is laser like with his approach and gets right to the heart of the issue. He provides clear, concise and focused advice."
| POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture - Chambers UK 2024
"He always provides excellent service, is on Ian is very knowledgeable about, and experienced in the practical application of the Proceeds of Crime legislation and AML law generally. He is calm under pressure, thoughtful but robust in his advice, and sensitive to the commercial realities of relevant transactions."
| Civil Fraud - Legal 500 2023
"The go-to counsel for the crossover between the criminal and civil world, and he really understand the demands on clients from a practical perspective. He pushes and pushes until he has everything he needs and the cases are always the better for it."
| POCA & Asset Forfeiture - Legal 500 2022
Ian acts both for claimants and defendants in the Business and Property Courts. Many of his cases involve allegations of fraud, corruption and breach of fiduciary duties as well as contract and restitution claims.
Ian is routinely involved in international asset recovery investigations and proceedings, obtaining or defending against freezing orders, search and seizure orders, disclosure orders and letters of request to overseas jurisdictions.
Ian also represents victims of fraud in their relations with the police and prosecuting agencies and in the criminal courts. He is renowned for his expertise in advising on the interaction between civil and criminal investigations and proceedings.
Ranked as a leading junior in civil fraud.
View Cases
Quotes
The Republic of Mozambique v Credit Suisse International & Ors [2024] EWHC 1957 (Comm) (aka ‘Tuna Bonds’)
Acted in multi-billion-dollar civil fraud claim that was one of the largest fraud trials to ever come before the Commercial Court.
SKAT (Danish Customs and Tax Administration dispute)
Acting for a group of energy plc companies in relation to their fraud claims.
"Ian is very thorough and tactically astute, with very good judgement."
| Chambers and Partners, 2025
"Hes really good on civil fraud. Hes particularly good where theres a crossover between criminal and civil, because hes familiar with both regimes."
| Chambers and Partners, 2025
"A very thorough junior who demonstrates good judgement."
| Legal 500, 2025
"Ian Smith is a civil and criminal fraud specialist comfortable managing complex proceedings involving such issues as asset recovery and money laundering"
| Civil Fraud - Chambers & Partners 2024
"Ian has a stellar intellect, is thoughtful and strategic, and drives litigation."
| Civil Fraud - Chambers & Partners 2024
"Ian is a go-to barrister for civil cases with a criminal crossover. He is the master of dealing with the intricacies involved."
| Civil Fraud - Chambers & Partners 2024
"Ians attention to detail is second to none, and he insists on each case being investigated to an extremely high standard, meaning that cases are very well put together and no stone is unturned. His advocacy is also excellent."
| Civil Fraud - Legal 500 2024
"Ian Smith is a civil and criminal fraud specialist comfortable managing complex proceedings involving such issues as asset recovery and money laundering. Much of his work pertains to overseas jurisdictions. He is adept at both bringing and defending claims."
| Civil Fraud - Chambers & Partners 2023
"He is laser like with his approach and gets right to the heart of the issue. He provides clear, concise and focused advice."
| Civil Fraud - Legal 500 2023
"He is thorough, strategic, accurate and commercial in his approach. Hes a good advocate who works well under pressure and is trusted by the judges."
| Civil Fraud - Chambers & Partners 2022
"He is calm under pressure, thoughtful but robust in his advice, and sensitive to the commercial realities of relevant transactions."
| Civil Fraud - Legal 500 2022
News from this Barrister
News from this Barrister
News from this Barrister
Official launch - Smith and Owen on Asset Recovery
For a confidential conversation please contact Chief Executive and Director of Clerking, Sam Carter.
“The clerks always go above and beyond to assist. They understand the needs of instructing solicitors, particularly in identifying suitable counsel for cases”
Chambers & Partners
“A friendly and integrated service. The clerks systems and client handling are excellent - with a can-do attitude, enabling easier planning on my side.”
Legal 500
People / Barristers
Address
For a confidential conversation please contact Chief Executive and Director of Clerking, Sam Carter.
“The clerks always go above and beyond to assist. They understand the needs of instructing solicitors, particularly in identifying suitable counsel for cases”
Chambers & Partners
“A friendly and integrated service. The clerks systems and client handling are excellent - with a can-do attitude, enabling easier planning on my side.”
Legal 500
People / Barristers
Address
For a confidential conversation please contact Chief Executive and Director of Clerking, Sam Carter.
“The clerks always go above and beyond to assist. They understand the needs of instructing solicitors, particularly in identifying suitable counsel for cases”
Chambers & Partners
“A friendly and integrated service. The clerks systems and client handling are excellent - with a can-do attitude, enabling easier planning on my side.”
Legal 500
People / Barristers
Address