David was born and bred in Dunedin. He completed his law degree at Otago and then practised with many of the current Gallaway Cook Allan staff before leaving for overseas experience in 1999.
He gained valuable commercial and corporate expertise in London with the in-house legal departments of a prominent aerospace and aviation company and a global information technology company, and brought that experience to the firm when he returned to Dunedin with his family in 2002.
David is involved in all aspects of commercial practice and is particularly interested in intellectual property matters. He finds commercial work very satisfying. “It’s all related to helping people to do business, whether it’s dealing with leases, acquisitions, financing, or working on a licensing or distribution agreement. I enjoy working with a variety of clients on a real mixture of projects.”
He believes that Gallaway Cook Allan has the right approach to life as well as business. “They’re great people to work with, and while we focus on producing quality work for our clients, we understand the importance of having a balanced life outside the office as well.”
With three young children, David’s life away from work is focused on his family, although he does enjoy sports such as golf, soccer, and basketball when he gets any spare time. He's also developing a keen interest in the local art scene.
Email: david.smillie@gcalegal.co.nz
After Hours Contact Details: 03 453 3097; 027 600 6191
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