Smeetesh  Kakkad

Smeetesh Kakkad is the Managing Partner of the London office. He is also a partner in the Dispute Resolution Group in London, specialising in general commercial arbitration and litigation, with particular emphasis on contract claims, joint venture, shareholder and partnership disputes, IP/IT, international trade and civil fraud.

He has acted in many complex disputes and much of his workload has an international focus. His extensive experience across a broad range of practice areas and industry sectors allows him to see the wider reaching implications of his case and to offer innovative strategies and solutions.

Recent Experience:

• Acting for the Defendants in a high profile litigation involving claims of breach of contract, unfair prejudice, breach of confidence and IP infringement.
• Acting for a shareholder of a joint venture company involved in the construction and operations of a coal-handling terminal in Ukraine, in relation to a dispute under the shareholders’ agreement.
• Acting for an international property group in an arbitration administered by the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce relating to its acquisition of a new commercial development in Moscow.
• Acting for a major Russian insurance company in LCIA arbitration proceedings arising from the construction of a commercial building in Moscow.
• Acting for an Italian shipyard in arbitration proceedings arising out of the construction of a mega yacht and involving complex defects claims.
• Acting for an engineering company in an arbitration concerning the construction of accommodation platforms for an oilfield in Qatar, involving allegations of breach of contract, and delay and disruption.
• Acting for a Bulgarian mining company in LCIA arbitration proceedings with a counterparty and shareholder concerning long-term supply and purchase contracts for metals and metal ores.
• Acting for the Claimants in a series of complex disputes relating to their membership rights in a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) and the operations of the LLP
• Acting on a complex litigation involving a dispute as to ownership of Oil and Gas licences granted by the DTI
• Acting as co-Counsel for a US telecoms company in litigation in Guernsey against a former director, and as lead Counsel in a related arbitration in London. This assignment led to Smeetesh and his team being short-listed for the Litigation Team of the Year at The Lawyer Awards
• Representing a leading media company in arbitration proceedings arising from its investment in a telecoms joint venture in Poland
• Acting for a high net-worth individual in litigation to regain control of a complex corporate structure acquired by him using nominee shareholders and directors who had threatened to dispose of his interests without his knowledge or consent
• Representing a Polish bank in two arbitrations under the UNCITRAL Rules and successfully defending the claims arising from facility agreements entered into with a Polish borrower seeking to dispute the validity of acceleration notices served by the bank
• Acting for a Russian investment company on various claims relating to assignments of Soviet era foreign trade debts before the High Court in London

Career:

• Joined Salans in 2000
• Admitted as a Solicitor in England & Wales in 1997

Education:

• Legal Practice Course, 1994
• LL.B. (Hons.), 1993

Languages:

• English