• Careers-banner

    Podcasts

Client Conversations Podcast: Sir Martin Smith

Managing Partner, Simon Ridpath, and Senior Partner, Bart Peerless, are joined by Sir Martin Smith. In this second episode, Sir Martin Smith discusses his lessons and successes from his forty years in the world of finance and his life as a philanthropist.

About Sir Martin Smith

Sir Martin has been involved in the financial services sector for more than 40 years. He was a founder and senior partner of Phoenix Securities, then become the chairman of European Investment Banking for Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette following the acquisition of Phoenix by DLJ.

His philanthropic interests include serving as chairman of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and serving on the boards of several other arts organisations including the Glyndebourne Arts Trust and the Science Museum Foundation. He has also chaired the English National Opera. In 2008 his family founded the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at Oxford University. In 2013 he received a knighthood in the New Year’s Honours List for services to the arts, education, and science.

Highlights

During the podcast Simon and Bart ask Sir Martin thought provoking questions about his life and lessons that he wishes to share with listeners. As well as talking about his journey in the world of finance and his successes, Sir Martin talks about the challenges in growing an international organisation and setting up his philanthropic ventures such as the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at Oxford University.

Listen in to hear how Sir Martin was very early in linking ESG to commercial solutions and recognising that many of the world’s biggest environmental challenges can only be solved with the support of private enterprise.

Our thinking

  • IBA Annual Conference 2025

    Simon Ridpath

    Events

  • Next Gen Rural Professionals Drinks Reception

    Events

  • New homes - 1.5m Target

    Tegan Johnson

    Insights

  • Hanh Nguyen, Hannah Edwards and Francesca Heath-Clarke contribute to the Legal Q&A section of R3 RECOVERY Magazine

    Hanh Nguyen

    In the Press

  • International Adviser quotes Dominic Lawrance on speculation that the UK is considering softening IHT rules on non-doms’ global assets

    Dominic Lawrance

    In the Press

  • Caroline Greenwell recognised in GIR’s ‘Women in Investigations 2025’ list

    Caroline Greenwell

    News

  • FCA Supercharged Sandbox, Encouraging AI Experimentation With NVIDIA

    Charlotte Hill

    Insights

  • Navigating supply chain disputes and risk

    Melanie Tomlin

    Insights

  • Charles Russell Speechlys advises the majority sellers of Portas Consulting on the sale of the company to a division of Creative Artists Agency

    Keir Gordon

    News

  • Charles Russell Speechlys’ ‘Russell Up’ initiative wins at The Lawyer Awards 2025

    Joe Cohen

    In the Press

  • When Artificial 'Intelligence' invents Artificial Cases - how to navigate AI use in civil law proceedings?

    Charlotte Posnansky

    Quick Reads

  • Arbitration for family offices

    Tamasin Perkins

    Insights

  • Behind the Curtain: Enforcing Contracts as an Undisclosed Principal in English Law

    Gareth Mills

    Insights

  • Reforms to the UK tax treatment of carried interest

    Alice Wilne

    Insights

  • Retail Collection – Episode 4: Caffé Nero – lessons from a life in retail management

    Michael Powner

    Podcasts

  • Nuptial Agreements: Perspectives from England and Hong Kong

    Sarah Higgins

    Insights

  • Beyond Gateway 2

    Mark Barley

    Insights

  • Dubai chocolate craze and related allergen concerns in the workplace

    Jamie Cartwright

    Quick Reads

  • HR Magazine quotes Jamie Cartwright on the Dubai chocolate craze and related allergen concerns in the workplace

    Jamie Cartwright

    In the Press

  • Business Assets in an English Divorce – How Can Parties Protect their Interests?

    Sarah Jane Boon

    Insights

Back to top