New key appointment to the Board at Glenville Walker to develop its Commercial Litigation offering

Glenville Walker are thrilled to welcome Michael Smeaton to the firm as a Director, Partner, and Head of Commercial Litigation. Michael brings with him a wealth of knowledge and strong leadership skills enabling the firm to expand its commercial litigation services resulting in a broadening of legal expertise to the benefit of its loyal clients. Michael’s appointment places Glenville Walker closer to its main aim of becoming a ‘one stop shop’ for all its clients by blending the provision of strategic business advice with the ability to service all its business client’s legal requirements. Michael, who has been recognised by the Legal 500 as an ‘experienced and first-rate litigator’ will be crucial in leading the Commercial Litigation department during this period of its growth.

Michael joins the firm with 15 years’ experience as a commercial litigation solicitor and was a Partner in his previous blue-chip firm. He has acted for businesses of all sizes, across a diverse range of sectors including manufacturing, transport, and education. Michael specialises in shareholder, director, and partnership disputes in businesses of all sizes, and property litigation on behalf of commercial landlords, commercial tenants, developers, and funders. He has acted successfully in a number of high value and high-profile pieces of litigation during his career, including group litigation against international finance institutions and several complicated group actions involving investment frauds. His proudest achievements are securing clients’ objectives in complicated and commercially daunting matters, allowing clients to focus on their business rather than on disputes.

Glenville Walker and Partners is an expert business law firm specialising in corporate, commercial, commercial litigation, intellectual property, property Law, employment law and family law with a straight-talking team whose clear objectives are to find pragmatic legal solutions to all business issues. The firm’s main objective is working with high growth owner-managed businesses by pairing commercially astute lawyers with dynamic business owners.

Michael said, “Having worked with Denise Walker and the team at Glenville Walker on behalf of mutual clients numerous times over the years, I have always admired their approach and dedication to client service, their wealth of experience and the vibrant culture at the firm. When I was offered the opportunity to head the Commercial Litigation team and become involved in management and future growth of the firm, it was exactly the opportunity I have been working towards since beginning my Legal career.”

Denise Walker, Director and Head of Business Law commented, “Michael and I have worked together on many occasions in the past and I can confidently say that Michael is an impressive and clear-thinking commercial litigator. We are very lucky to have him in our firm and we are all excited about our future together and the opportunities his joining will produce.”Michael continued to comment, “As an independent and forward-thinking law firm with such an impressive wealth of experience, Glenville Walker is ideally placed to offer top level expertise and client service in a user friendly and cost-effective way, and I look forward to developing that further. I hope to be able to contribute to the existing culture of the firm, to ensure it is a great place to work for colleagues and a valuable partner for our clients.”