About

Dave founded Riverside in 2012 after more than a decade in public affairs and communications working across the Westminster Parliament, the institutions of the European Union, trade bodies and agencies.

Having begun his career working for an MP, Dave has worked in a variety of roles for the Liberal Democrats, including in the Policy and Research Unit (PRU) during the 2005 general election, and as a press and broadcast officer. He then continued his career in Brussels, becoming Director of Communications for the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, before moving to a similar role at BEUC, the European Consumers’ Organisation. In that role he could often be heard defending consumer interests across the airwaves of Europe.

As well as his work with trade associations and charities Dave has advised many blue-chip companies including Cable & Wireless Worldwide and Getty Images. Since establishing Riverside, clients have included First Group, the Association of Consumer Credit Information Suppliers, the Haven Gateway Partnership (A120 Campaign), the National Farmers Union (NFU), National Housebuilding Council (NHBC), ROCKWOOL, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM).

Michael is one of the UK’s most experienced public affairs and media relations advisers. A former political journalist, with experience in the Parliamentary press gallery, Michael founded UK lobbying firm Westminster Strategy, in 1986. He has worked in senior European roles at Edelman and APCO Worldwide. He has twice been chair of the Association of Professional Political Consultants (APPC) and is director of the European Centre for Public Affairs (ECPA), a Brussels-based best practice organisation. Named by PR Week as one of the 100 most influential figures in its 21-year history, he was also the first recipient of the “outstanding achievement in European public affairs” award.

Michael has provided UK, EU and global public affairs advice, crisis management and media relations counsel to a wide range of businesses, trade associations, governments and regulatory bodies, often at chairman and CEO level. His experience has encompassed many sectors including aviation, energy, financial services, local government, pharmaceuticals, technology and telecommunications. Clients whom he has advised include the Airport Operators Association, Aviva, BT, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Gazprom, Legal & General, Microsoft, Pfizer, Roche, Samsung and the Takeover Panel.

Warwick Smith served for 16 years as a Whitehall official, as a policy adviser, international negotiator, and ministerial aide.

He subsequently worked as a consultant lobbyist, principally in the UK and the EU. He was elected the UK's top public affairs practitioner by Total Politics magazine and the CIPR, and was Chair of the Association of Professional Political Consultants for three years.

He was the Director General of the British Generic Manufacturers Association in
which role he negotiated the generic medicines pricing and reimbursement arrangements with the Department of Health and Social Care, and most recently was an expert witness before the Competition Appeals Tribunal on a medicines pricing issue.

He is a Fellow of the Public Relations and Communications Association.