Attorney Profiles

I have been a trial attorney representing consumers in San Francisco since 1973. Over the last 37 years I have represented clients up and down the State of California, all over the United States, Canada and Europe. I specialize in major personal injury and wrongful death cases and I only represent victims. I do this because I have always fought for the underdog who needs someone in his or her corner to go up against the major corporations, public entities and insurance companies who would otherwise roll over those less powerful or influential. I tend to think that I can help level out the playing field for my clients.

Our firm has been very successful as can be seen in the section of this website entitled Winning Record. The reason for this is that we love what we do. I carefully select my cases and clients looking for matters where I can make a difference. I then personally handle all my cases.

By reading my attorney profile in this website you can learn about my background and you will be able to see how active I am in the key legal organizations and in teaching other lawyers and law students how to successfully develop cases to maximize the outcome for their clients. 

Our firm has been a leader and innovator in electronic jury trials.  We describe ourselves as being "traditionally innovative".  In other words, we use the latest computer technology and consultants to present evidence at mediations, arbitrations and trial while still retaining our old fashioned values of personal attention and hard work. We have found that the increased use of technology gives our clients a distinct advantage which usually translates into a much better award. In fact, we recently won the national award from the publication Law Technology News for "the most innovative use of technology during trial".

My motto is "Deserve Victory". It came from one of my heroes Winston Churchill, who was Prime Minister of Great Britain during World War II. Churchill stood up to the evil of Nazi Germany by himself until the Americans came to his assistance. I will always work harder than any opponent to make sure my clients get the recovery and the personal attention that they deserve.

Mr. Smith has been included in the national publication The Best Lawyers in America for the last 15 years and has been selected to be in the Top 100 Superlawyers in Northern California for every year the publication has existed and has been selected to be one of the top 500 plaintiffs' lawyers in the nation by Lawdragon Magazine for 2006-2008. Mr. Smith believes in paying back the system and has devoted himself to teaching trial practice courses at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and Stanford University Law School. He also serves as a Pro Tem judge in two Bay Area counties.

He is one of a handful of lawyers in California who has been honored by being elected by his peers to be a member of the four key national trial lawyer organizations: The American Board of Trial Advocates, The American College of Trial Lawyers, The International Academy of Trial Lawyers and The International Society of Barristers.