Mr. Smith is an Associate in the firm’s Litigation practice. Mr. Smith has worked on a variety of commercial litigation matters, including complex contract disputes, securities litigation, closed corporation shareholder disputes and defense of an indenture trustee in a suit brought on behalf of note holders. Mr. Smith has also worked on a variety of product liability matters, on behalf of raw material and component part producers as well as end-product manufacturers. His experience includes drafting of pleadings, motion papers, pre-trial orders, and jury instructions, as well as taking and defending depositions. Mr. Smith is also a member of the firm's International Trade group, and has broad experience dealing with customs and trade related issues. Such experience includes: preparation of successful Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism application submitted to customs on behalf of a Mexican manufacturer; preparation of successful advanced tariff ruling request from customs resulting in lower tariff rate for client; preparation of successful request for redesignation of imported product to tariff-free treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences, submitted to the Office of the US Trade Representative; and the recordation of registered trademarks with customs to protect against the importation of infringing goods.

Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Smith received a Stimson Fellowship from the firm allowing him to spend a year litigating on behalf of New York City’s homeless population, for which he was awarded the Legal Aid Society’s Pro Bono Publico Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Service.

Experience through this fellowship included: class action litigation on behalf of homeless families and individuals, involving brief writing and motion practice before the Appellate Division and Court of Appeals; representation of homeless individuals in disability hearings before Administrative Law Judges, involving direct examination of claimants and cross-examination of medical and vocational experts; negotiation of disability settlements with the US Attorney’s office; and an Article 78 proceeding brought against city and state agencies. Other pro bono representation includes landlord-tenant disputes in housing court, and postconviction petition for relief in a death penalty case in Alabama state court.

Association of the Bar of the City of New York

United States Court of Appeals for the Second and Eleventh Circuits; United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York