Robert Bolgar-Smith
Robert Bolgar-Smith advises on complex international commercial matters involving both litigation and arbitration (including before the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC)) across a range of sectors, including energy, commodities, and construction. Robert regularly advises clients on regulatory investigations and business crime issues, including bribery, corruption, anti-money laundering (AML), and sanctions.
Before joining Morgan Lewis, Robert worked at a major international law firm in London and for a nongovernmental organization that works with partners in developing countries to increase the effectiveness of democratic institutions.
- Advised one of the world’s largest investment companies on an investigation into potential breaches of financial regulations
- Advised a leading international co-work and hotel company on an investigation into allegations of improper use of funds by management, bribery, improper accounting and profit inflation, audit documentation falsification, misuse of COVID-19 support funds, and inadequate AML
- Advised an international technology company on an investigation into potential breaches of US/UK bribery and corruption charges by its Russian entity
- Advised on a complex LCIA arbitration against a governmental entity in relation to the construction of a floating offshore oil rig
- Advised on an ICC arbitration against a joint venture partner regarding the development of certain Kazakh oil sites
- Advised an oil trading company on a shipment of oil that was in breach of the contractual specifications, including on consequential issues for the governmental end user
- Advised on an ICC arbitration in relation to the construction of a gas storage facility
- Advised a major energy company in a pre-action dispute in relation to a solar power farm
- Advised a major international telecommunications company on an arbitration to enforce a share option agreement, including defending accusations of minority shareholder abuse and claims made to the local competition authority and criminal authorities
- Advised a government entity in a DIFC-LCIA arbitration on a complex multijurisdictional dispute in relation to the purchase and outfitting of military aircraft
- Advised on compliance programs and remediation work for a range of clients in areas including bribery and corruption, whistleblowing, financial crime, fraud, sanctions, and export controls
- BPP University, England, 2014, MA (Business with Law)
- BPP Law School, England, 2010, Legal Practice Course
- BPP Law School, England, 2010, Graduate Diploma in Law
- Durham University, 2008, B.A., Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, with honours
- England & Wales (Solicitor)

Recommended, Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration, The Legal 500 UK (2025)