David Smellie
Partner
David is an employment law specialist advising senior executives and organisations on complex, high‑stakes matters, including senior executive moves, exits and investigations, often with reputational implications. He advises schools and other child‑facing organisations on safeguarding cases and building robust safeguarding frameworks.
David is consistently rated one of the top lawyers in the UK. Whether advising on senior executive moves or exits, or the careful handling of serious or high-profile sexual misconduct or safeguarding cases, either past or present, David is acknowledged for calmness and sound judgment in a crisis, as well as the clarity and astuteness of his advice – always looking several steps ahead in an attempt to futureproof whatever action is contemplated now.
In employment law David has consistently been rated one of the top-rated UK lawyers to senior executives by Chambers, Spears and Legal 500. He typically advises on PLC board members, private equity and professional services partners, leading individuals in the political, sports, broadcasting or arts fields and is a steady and sure hand in a crisis or high stakes situation. David also works closely with leading reputation management and crisis PR experts as his cases frequently have a reputational aspect to them.
Outside of employment law, David advises leading independent schools, sports and religious organisations, and focuses on issues ranging from sensitive dismissals to pupil exclusions and parental complaints. David is widely acknowledged as the most experienced safeguarding lawyer in the country. He founded the firm's Child Protection Unit (now known as the Safeguarding Unit) in 2015 which advises organisations either working or coming into contact with children. These include schools, universities, charities, churches, visitor attractions, sports clubs and the medical sector. David advises on the full range of safeguarding issues, from creating safer systems to handling live cases and carrying out retrospective reviews. He is particularly well known for his role in advising on the William Vahey case where he led the Farrer team in conducting the Independent Review into Vahey's criminal misconduct - which subsequently prompted the introduction by the UK government of low-level concerns policies - now a national requirement for all schools in England.
