Spear’s Review

CEOs of listed companies, private equity investors and high-profile individuals facing interest from the press seek Farrer partner David Smellie’s wealth of expertise in complex employment-related matters.

Smellie advises on the entire employment life cycle, from contracts and misconduct allegations to exit agreements and renumeration; he has particular expertise in the latter. It is not unusual for his clients to have trusteeships at schools, and Smellie provides safeguarding advice for educational institutions that are going through a crisis.

He says clients appreciate not just his legal sharpness and leading insight, but also his level-headedness during times of crisis. ‘If someone has done something wrong or if someone is in a tricky situation, the worst thing you can do is give them false hope,’ he tells Spear’s.

Adviser Profile

David is a leading employment and safeguarding lawyer. Whether advising on senior executive moves within PLCs or private equity, or the handling of serious/high-profile safeguarding cases, either past or present, David is acknowledged for the clarity and astuteness of his advice – always looking ahead in an attempt to future-proof whatever action is contemplated now. 

Outside of employment law, he advises leading independent schools on issues relating to staff, pupils and parents – from sensitive dismissals to pupil exclusions and parental complaints. David is also an experienced safeguarding lawyer and advises on issues including creating safer systems, handling live cases and carrying out retrospective reviews.