Oliver Powell KC & James Smith deliver talks to Ukrainian Judges at the Law Society

On 17 June 2026, Oliver Powell KC and James Smith spoke at ‘The Rule of Law and International Dispute Resolution: a Judicial Exchange’ event, hosted by the Law Society of England and Wales. 

The event was organised by the Ukrainian National Bar Association, in cooperation with the Law Society of England and Wales and LawLex Solicitors. The event brought together Ukrainian Judges alongside Barristers and Solicitors from England & Wales.

The event featured talks on topics including: why law matters in times of reconstruction; rule of law and judicial independence; the economic importance of strong legal institutions; English law in international commerce; international arbitration; sanctions; judicial cooperation between the Ukraine and the UK; investment, reconstruction and legal certainty; and the role of legal professionals in supporting reconstruction. 

The event also focused on the promotion and enhancement of the legal services of England & Wales, with a particular emphasis on international arbitration and dispute resolution in London. 

Find out More

Oliver Powell KC’s practice concerns commercial disputes and the regulation of business activity and commerce. His practice encompasses: arbitration; asset recovery; commercial fraud & injunctive relief; corporate crime & investigations; financial services; and sanctions & export controls. 

Oliver is a Barrister of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (BVI), a member of the New York State Bar Association, and in recent years has undertaken work in, amongst others, USA and UAE, as well as several UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. He is an editor of Millington and Sutherland Williams on the Proceeds of Crime and a contributor to Lissack and Horlick on International Bribery and Corruption, the seminal texts on POCA and Bribery & Corruption respectively. Since 2020, Oliver has been a visiting lecturer at Middlesex University Dubai and the DIFC Academy of Law.

James Smith has a wide-ranging commercial practice which spans banking and financial services, civil fraud, commercial, company, insolvency, international arbitration, pensions, private client, regulatory, and sanctions matters. His international work is principally based in the Gulf. Formerly a law lecturer at the London School of Economics, James graduated with first-class honours in Law (LLB) from the University of Warwick and a distinction in International Commercial Law (LLM) from University College London. He served as a trainee at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, where he wrote speeches for the Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg. He is a contributor to the latest edition of Lissack and Horlick on International Bribery and Corruption.

To find out more about Oliver Powell KC or James Smith, please contact Andy Hunter on +44 (0)20 7427 4905.

News 19 Jun, 2026