Specific
examples include:
- Employer's liability
personal injury action with a scheduled value of £2.5 million, liability, causation and quantum in dispute
- Partnership
dispute with large GP practice facing dissolution and the sale of £500,000 property with negative equity
- Multi-million
pound intellectual property dispute involving passing-off and trademark infringement
- Wide variety of personal injury
and fatal accident claims
- Clinical negligence claims (incl brain surgery; fatality; laser surgery; incorrect diagnoses;
hospital infection)
- Banking disputes (incl claim scheduled at £26m)
- Defamation arising from radio broadcast
with 11 claimants
- Defamation involving libel and slander between senior professionals
- Defamation re police
investigation of child abuse and media coverage
- Defamation involving national newspapers; broadcasters; internet
- Minority
shareholders' disputes including allegations connected with offshore companies, trusts with significant tax implications
- Shareholder
/ Company Valuation disputes over £50m
- Sport (contracts; transfers; injuries; defamation; refereeing)
- Stress
claim within the insurance industry scheduled at over £1million
- Harrassment/Discrimination/Victimisation (academic
institutions, health and local authorities)
- GP funding within a Primary Care Trust and Strategic Health Authority
- Claims
against solicitors (eg commercial property transactions; business collapses; tax issues)
- Subrogated claim brought
by insurers against accountants following fraud prosecution
- Fire insurance incl issues of cover
- Solicitors'
and other partnership disputes (doctors; commercial businesses)
- Accountants' and architects' negligence claims
- Dispute
over PFI contracts and building management systems
- Claims involving mineral extraction, retained rights, disputed
boundaries....
- Commercial contracts including breaches or warranties; product liability
- Multiple vehicle accidents
on motorway including fatalities, spinal and brain injuries, disputes between insurers
- Facilitation of consultants'
disputes with NHS Trust
- Employment incl discrimination; "whistleblowing"; dismissals; stress
- 6 Claimant
stress claim against a local authority
- Probate (Inheritance claims; admin of estates; prof negl)
- Construction
disputes contracts; collapsed buildings; defects; insurance aspects
- Costs claims
- Property transactions and
planning issues
- Motor accident claim scheduled at over £6m
- Police (whistle-blowing, defamation, injuries)
Some feedback includes:
"...clearly very experienced and we had full confidence in him "
" Successfully facilitated a satisfactory settlement in a case with a very emotional Claimant where the parties
were, initially, a long way apart "
"…made several
important breakthroughs; would recommend him; very professional "
" Quentin really got the parties to open-up from entrenched positions. He got a
fair result "
"…as a result of Quentin's calm
determination and refusal to give up, terms were eventually agreed."
" Handled the case intelligently and with refreshing deftness "
He is described as "supportive and helpful". He "created and maintained a relaxed environment which
was crucial to the success of the mediation".
Distinctions
ADR Group Award: "Mediator of the
Year 2007".
Chambers Guide UK 2010:
One of the "Top Ranked Leading
Individuals of the Year" in his field.
Directories
Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession:
Recommended in the Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession 2001/2 as a
leader in alternative dispute resolution, he is described as winning "plaudits from practitioners across the country"
and "young, earnest and clearly one to watch".
2002/3 edition:
"energetic and persuasive" with a useful ability to "tune into what people want". Commentators say that
"he thoroughly deserves the hype" and consider him a "growing player and future star".
2003/4 edition: "a rising star" and "a hard-working mediator able to
pick up difficult issues quickly."
Ranked in the top 25, in
the 2004/5 edition, " he retains a prominent position in the market".
Ranked in the top 18 in the 2005/6 edition, "… has acquired an excellent reputation. Clients and peers
alike praise his assured touch, and his understanding of the mediation process. His practice has experienced exponential growth
over the past twelve months."
In the 2006/7 edition…"assertive"
approach lends itself well to the mediation process, according to clients, who say that he controls the process well….establishes
a good rapport with clients from the outset….involved in a number of sensitive media and defamation cases and regularly
deals with commercial disputes, reinsurance, pensions, employment and personal injury…mediates regularly and is appointed
in high-profile, multiparty mediations."
Highly recommended
in the 2008 edition: "…decision in early 2007 to mediate independently of Addleshaw Goddard while retaining a
consultancy position has been well received by a marketplace whose members anticipate great success for him. Peers are full
of praise for his "charming manner" and envy his ability to "win the trust of both sides; he can get through
to people on a human level." His profile continues to grow throughout the country..".
2009 edition: "The name that keeps coming up right now", and "a good operator."
His continuing success is attributed to his ability to "encourage parties to look at the bigger picture."
2010 edition: Listed in the Top 14 Mediators: “ an increasingly familiar face in
complex mediations. He "really drives the other side to a bargain"......"he
stands out because he not only sees the big picture, but he also gets into the nitty-gritty detail."”
Legal 500:
Recommended in the 2005
edition of Legal 500: " thoughtful and very bright ".
2006
edition: "….is a veteran of some 200 mediations and remains prolific despite the pressures of a private litigation
practice. He is popular with clients who appreciate his sense of humour, 'assured touch', and 'no-nonsense'
manner. With a success rate of over 95% and wide-ranging contacts, Smith and his 'tough facilitator' style are fast
gaining ground."
2007 edition: "…increasingly prolific….mediates
a wide range of disputes…..regarded as an ‘activist’, he pushes parties hard in mediations and an astonishing
settlement rate is testament to the success of his approach."
Ranked
in the Top 30 in the 2008 edition, Quentin is described as "An instinctive and shrewd negotiator, his friendly, easy-going
style quickly builds trust and confidence. His analysis is 'spot-on' and he identifies and tackles the issues 'head
on'. His persistence in seeking the deal on occasion goes well beyond the call of duty".
Again ranked in the Top 30 in the 2009 edition, “Quentin
Smith has a well-honed, highly effective style. While ‘convivial’ and ‘self-deprecating’, he is considered
‘hugely clever, a skilled and intuitive negotiator’, and a ‘tireless worker’. ‘A good operator’,
and ‘generous with his time’, he has ‘a clever way of bringing parties to settlement’ which rarely
fails.”
Professional Background
Graduated in B(Hons)Econ from Manchester University in 1977. Employment in social work
and then management before qualification as a Solicitor in January 1988; Articled Clerk, Solicitor and Partner with James
Chapman & Co, 1985 - 1996; Partner in Addleshaw Sons & Latham then Addleshaw Booth & Co and then Addleshaw Goddard
from 1996 until 2007 specialising in arbitration, insurance litigation, personal injury and professional negligence. Head
of Safety, Health and Environment Unit and Chair of Sports Business Group
Other Experiences / Skills
