Nikolas Bruce-Smith is a London Partner at Quinn Emanuel. He joined the firm in 2017. Nikolas’s practice covers a wide range of large complex commercial litigation, with experience acting for both claimants and defendants in every stage of the litigation process (with a particular focus on English High Court disputes, alongside significant trial experience, arising out of administrations, liquidations and other corporate failures).
Nikolas has consecutively been named one of the Legal 500’s “Recommended Individuals” for Tier 1 ‘Commercial Litigation: Premium’. Legal 500 has recorded that:
“Nikolas Bruce- Smith is an excellent litigator and very personable. He has an excellent grasp of multiple complicated workstreams and facts.” (2024 UK edition)
“A 'clear thinker and excellent presenter’, Nikolas Bruce-Smith handles disputes stemming from administrations and liquidations." (2025 UK edition)
Nikolas is known for running substantial commercial disputes involving 9 and 10 figure damages claims, including having helped lead the Quinn Emanuel London team which obtained a Judgment for over US$ 1.8 billion against Argentina, which was successful defended on appeal. The case earned the team multiple nominations for ‘Disputes/Litigation Team of the Year’ at industry legal awards (‘British Legal Awards’ 2023 and 2024; ‘The Lawyer Awards’ 2024; ‘Legal Business Awards’ 2024).
Nikolas has also been repeatedly named in The Lawyer’s annual ‘Top Cases’ list. In 2022, Nikolas was recognised as the Senior Associate responsible for two of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20 Cases of 2022’. In 2025, Nikolas was recognised as one of the Partners responsible for two of The Lawyer’s ‘Top 20 Cases of 2025’ and one of the ‘Top 10 Appeals of 2025’.
Nikolas’s clients include funds, large international corporates, insolvency office holders, investment managers and high net worth individuals.
Prior to joining the firm, Nikolas worked at New Zealand’s leading full-service commercial law firm. Nikolas has appeared as junior counsel in commercial cases in the New Zealand Court of Appeal, High Court and arbitrations. He gained particular experience in mediating and negotiating settlements of disputes, including regularly acting as lead counsel at settlement meetings.
- Acting for holders of Argentina’s GDP linked warrants in a EUR 1.5 bn claim concerning Argentina’s GDP rebasing and subsequent non-payment of the warrants in 2013.
- Acting for NMC plc (a former FTSE 100 company), by its administrators, in its professional negligence claim against EY LLP, by which it seeks to recover losses of more than US$2.5 billion.
- Acting for Phones 4u (by its administrators) in proceedings against Telefonica, Vodafone and EE relating to their conduct in terminating their support contract, which led to the insolvency of Phones 4u who had an annual turn-over of £1 billion.
- Acting for SoftBank Group and Vision Funds in relation to a US$440m claim brought by Credit Suisse arising from the collapse of Greensill Capital.
- Acting for a private equity fund manager in respect of intra-partnership disputes following mismanagement of a US$1.6 billion commitment partnership by its former management.
- College of Law New Zealand
(L.P.C., 2012)
- Victoria University of Wellington
(LL.B., Honours, 2012)
(B.A., International Relations and Political Science, 2012)
- Solicitor, England and Wales
- Barrister, The High Court of New Zealand
- Solicitor, The High Court of New Zealand
- Legal 500 United Kingdom, Commercial Litigation: Premium (Tier 1) – Recommended Individual, 2024
- 'Nikolas Bruce- Smith is an excellent litigator and very personable. He has an excellent grasp of multiple complicated workstreams and facts.'
- Legal 500 United Kingdom, Commercial Litigation: Premium (Tier 1) – Recommended Individual, 2025
- ‘A 'clear thinker and excellent presenter’, Nikolas Bruce-Smith handles disputes stemming from administrations and liquidations.’
- Nominated for “Disputes Team of the Year” (The British Legal Awards 2024 and 2025)
- Nominated for “Litigation Team of the Year” (The Lawyer Awards 2024)
- Nominated for “Commercial Litigation Team of the Year” (The Legal Business Awards 2024)