Michael Smit, a South African advocate based in Moscow, specializes in economic trade law with a particular focus on BRICS conventions and legal frameworks. As one of the few native English-speaking legal practitioners in Moscow, Smit has joined Levant & Partners to offer comprehensive legal services to international clients dealing with the complexities of economic trade and investment in the region.
Smit, with a keen interest in the evolving legal landscape of BRICS, actively engages in discussions on BRICS initiatives and emerging legal developments. His participation in the BRICS Academic Forum and the BRICS Business Council keeps him at the forefront of international trade law, especially concerning the member countries. Smit’s expertise encompasses cross-border dispute resolution, intellectual property law, and international trade and investment law, including sanctions and export controls. In 2017, he was appointed to the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, following a nomination by Honourable Justice Botes, AJ. He is a former member of the Gauteng Society of Advocates and currently serves on the National Bar Association Council of South Africa in the Free State Province. He is in the process of acquiring Bar Membership in Moscow. Smit is currently pursuing a Master of Laws (LL.M.). He commenced his studies in International Trade and Dispute Resolution at The National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE) in Moscow in 2023. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of South Africa in 2016 and subsequently completed his pupillage with the Gauteng Society of Advocates from January to November 2017. In addition, Smit possesses a Diploma in Forensic Psycho-physiology from the American Polygraph Association (2010) and a Diploma in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from England (2020). He is licensed to practice by the Legal Practice Council of South Africa (License No. 56091). Through his legal practice, Smit endeavours to harmonize South African and Russian legal frameworks, thereby facilitating more efficient trade and investment processes among the BRICS nations. His dedication to Legal English education for Russian law firms and students further highlights his commitment to promoting understanding and collaboration within the international legal community.