Ed Smyth

White Collar Crime

Ed has acted in many significant and complex cases brought by the SFO, HMRC, the Information Commissioner, the Electoral Commission and various professional disciplinary bodies. The cross-border nature of many of these matters means Ed is accustomed to dealing with practitioners and officials in foreign jurisdictions.

He is often instructed by senior executives and prominent individuals, in recent years being involved in the investigations into Cambridge Analytica, Leave.EU, fraud by the leadership of a global bank, individuals facing allegations of FX manipulation, individuals and corporates involved in pan-European investigations into cum ex trading, and bribery and corruption in – variously – Africa, the Middle East, South East Asia and South America.

Criminal Defence and Police Investigations

Outside white collar and financial crime, Ed deals with clients facing a wide range of criminal allegations (including sexual offences and drug offences) and extradition proceedings.

Ed specialises in advising clients prior to, or at the earliest stages of, an investigation with a view to preventing further action. His cases often engage legal issues beyond criminal law (for example employment, family or dispute resolution), and he works with colleagues from other teams within the firm to provide a comprehensive solution.

At the other end of the criminal process, Ed is regularly instructed to advise on challenges to police cautions, appeals against conviction and sentence and in respect of applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).

Ed is also ranked in Chambers and Partners UK and mentioned as a Key Lawyer in Legal 500.

Private Wealth

Ed is a member of Kingsley Napley’s Private Wealth Group, providing a bespoke offering to HNWs and UNHWs.

Recent cases

White Collar Crime and Fraud

• Successfully challenged an Account Freezing Order affecting over £1 million.
• Negotiated a settlement with the NCA in respect of Account Freezing Orders affecting over £100 million, with no finding of criminal wrongdoing.
• Acting for a former senior executive in an on-going SFO investigation into global bribery and corruption in the oil and gas industry.
• Acting for several employees of a global conglomerate under investigation by both the US Department of Justice and the SFO.

Criminal Defence and Police Investigations

• No further action taken against two prominent individuals connected to the “leave” campaign in the EU referendum, alleged to have committed breaches of electoral spending rules.
• No Further Action taken against a medical doctor following allegations of historical sexual offences.
• No Further Action taken against a high profile musician in respect of an allegation of assault.
• No Further Action taken against a financial services professional in a harassment investigation.
• Acquittal after retrial of a former schoolmaster accused of historical sexual offences, where late disclosure led to original convictions being overturned on appeal.
• No further action against a father and IT professional alleged to have possessed indecent images of children.
• Acquittal after trial of a businessman accused of rape. Central to the defence was initially undisclosed Facebook material which undermined the complainant’s allegations.
• Successful application to the CCRC to refer an allegation of rape by a youth for an appeal.

What Clients and Directories Say

“Ed Smyth is a very clever, creative and nuanced thinker. He sees cases from angles that others miss.” Chambers UK 2025

“Ed is committed, attentive and above all it is clear to see that he really does give his all for his clients.” Chambers and Partners 2024

“Ed is so efficient, and everything he does is meticulous and well documented.” Chambers and Partners 2024

“He is a terrific lawyer – he has a phenomenal memory for details in a case and is an extremely good draftsman.” Chambers and Partners 2024

“The service I received from Edmund was first-class in all aspects.” Chambers UK, 2023

“He really thinks outside the box and is very creative.” Chambers & Partners, 2022

“We value his communication skills as well as his breadth of knowledge and experience.” Chambers & Partners, 2022

“Ed Smyth is an up and coming partner – great client care and commitment to his cases.” Legal 500 UK 2022

“Ed Smyth is a clever and innovative lawyer. Ed is personable as well as being a fighter.” Legal 500 UK 2022

“He is a very capable criminal defence lawyer.” Chambers UK 2021

“A joy to work with – he is committed, supportive and a very good solicitor.” Chambers UK 2021

“He is a master of his cases – thoughtful, pragmatic and very client-focused. I am always very impressed with his legal acumen and application of it to the facts in any case.” Chambers UK 2020

“A very good advocate who is very attentive to detail.” Chambers and Partners 2019

“Quickly gains the trust of clients with his sympathetic yet practical and realistic manner.” Chambers and Partners UK, 2018

“The best advice my civil lawyers ever gave me was to point me in the direction of Ed Smyth.” A Client

Publications

• A reflection on 10 years of the offence of controlling and coercive behaviour – Solicitor’s Journal, April 2025
• National Fertility Awareness Week | In the Club? – Today’s Family Lawyer, October 2023
• National Fertility Awareness Week | In the Club? – We Are The City, October 2023
• HNW Divorce Magazine Issue 14 – ADR in Divorce, ThoughtLeaders4 HNW Divorce, October 2023
• The Pros and Cons of Nesting – The Divorce Magazine, August 2023
• What is allyship and how can law firms help LGBTQIA people? My Surrogacy Journey, July 2023
• Surrogacy: ‘Revolutionary’ changes could see intended parents recognised in law from birth, Today’s Family Lawyer 2023
• Family lawyers welcome ”revolutionary” surrogacy recommendations, Law Society Gazette, March 2023
• Surrogacy law reform up for UK government review following draft legislation publication, EPrivateClient, March 2023
• Surrogacy ‘revolution’ underway, New Law Journal, March 2023
• How will the new law changes around surrogacy impact parents in the UK? Women’s Health, March 2023
• 60 seconds with Connie, Thought Leaders 4, October 2022
• The rise of the crypto assets in financial remedies, ThoughtLeaders4 HNW Magazine, October 2022
• Work Life, Stylist, January 2022
• ‘it’s None Of Your Business’ – A Review Of The Issues Affecting A Divorce Settlement When Business Assets Are Involved, Thought Leaders 4, January 2022
• ThoughtLeaders4 HNW Divorce Magazine – Issue 5, May 2021
• Valuing your business for divorce proceedings during the uncertainty of COVID, Business Matters, May 2020
• When solicitors divorce: calculating an equity partner’s income – Law Society Gazette, March 2020
• Connie was one of the legal advisers on the script of The Split, Seasons 1 & 2, a BBC drama series, which aired in 2018 and 2020
• International surrogacy – the legal challenges for US nationals bringing a surrogate child to the UK, The American Magazine, April 2018
• Residency tested – A landmark case concerning habitual residence shows how the courts are adapting to social change – The Law Society Gazette, January 2014
• Child abduction: do children’s views count? – The Times, January 2014

Publications, Press highlights and Speaking engagements

Professional memberships and societies

• Appointed by the Lord Chief Justice as a member of the Criminal Procedure Rule Committee
• Committee member of and the media officer for the London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association (LCCSA)
• Proceeds of Crime Lawyers Association (POCLA)
• Liberty