SMB Welcomes Three New Partners

We’re delighted to announce the arrival of three new partners, marking a bold step in expanding and elevating the firm’s capability across key practice areas. These appointments form a key part of the firm’s proactive growth strategy, designed to deepen expertise and anticipate evolving client needs.

Liam Alt joins the Music team, Tim Harris the Criminal and Civil Litigation teams and Joel Cohen bolsters the firm’s Commercial practice. Their appointments mark a significant milestone in strengthening the partnership and advancing the firm’s long term strategic objectives.

Liam Alt

Liam joins SMB’s well-established Music team from SSB Solicitors, having previously been with Russells. Prior to training as a solicitor he spent 15 years working in various roles in the music business at record companies, in management, and in digital content distribution. From such varied prior experience, Liam brings a unique and much-valued perspective to his clients.

Liam’s move to SMB boosts the Music department to a team to five Partners and five Associates, ably led by Richard Baskind and Alasdair George.

Tim Harris

Tim joins SMB from the Serious Fraud Office. His arrival is a significant addition to the firm’s top-tier Crime and Regulatory team, spearheaded by industry leaders Phil Smith and Anthony Burton.

Tim brings an exceptional depth of experience to clients facing serious criminal and regulatory exposure. He has acted in many of the UK’s most high-profile investigations and prosecutions – for both prosecution and defence.

With a background spanning international corporate law-firms – including Eversheds and Simmons & Simmons – in-house banking, white-collar crime boutiques, and prosecution work at the Serious Fraud Office, Tim’s knowledge and experience is highly valued by clients and their advisors.

Tim also provides a range of financial crime advisory work, often traversing civil and regulatory matters especially around fraud and asset recovery.

Joel Cohen

Joel is a highly experienced lawyer with expertise in media and entertainment, corporate finance, IP, licensing, and general commercial matters. He previously served as General Counsel and Group Head of Business and Legal affairs to Idris Elba’s companies, and has held senior legal roles at the FIA, UK ASN Motorsport UK and Premier Models amongst others.

He advises public and private clients, from development-stage, emerging-growth companies and angel investors, to venture capital funds, family offices and strategic investors, as well as working with clients on cross-border governance and charitable matters.

Joel has worked extensively across multiple industries – film, tv, music, sports, fashion, digital media. FMCG, luxury goods, and technology. His broad and far-reaching practice complements and enhances the firm’s already well-established commercial and media offering.

Simon Goldberg, Senior Partner said of their arrival:
“This is a bold step for SMB as we embark upon a concerted effort to develop and grow the firm, in order to address the evolving needs of our clients. We are delighted that Liam, Tim, and Joel have chosen to join SMB. We are sure that they will thrive here, and we will fully support them in the further development and growth of their practices.

As the firm continues to grow, it’s a great time to join the firm and we look forward to seeing the trio thrive at SMB.”

The arrival of Liam, Tim, and Joel brings the total number of SMB Partners to 48, the highest number in the firm’s history.