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Attorney Profiles


William B Smith 
44 Montgomery Street
Suite 3340
San Francisco, California 94104-4806
 

Communication Center 
Phone: (415) 421-7995
888-745-2988 (888-PILAW88) (Toll Free)
E-mail: Email Me
Fax: (415) 421-0912
Web site: http://www.aswllp.com


PositionAreas of PracticeEducation
HonorsPublished WorksAffiliations
References


I have been a trial attorney representing consumers in San Francisco since 1973. Over the last 35 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. In other words, we use the latest computer technology and consultants to present evidence at mediations, arbitrations and at trial. We have learned that this 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 decade 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.

Current Employment Position(s):
Partner, since 1982
Areas of Practice:
Aviation/Airplane Crash Cases
Governmental Tort Liability
Insurance Law
Medical Malpractice
Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff
Nursing Home
Personal Injury -- Plaintiff
Products Liability Law
Toxic Torts
Sports Injuries (e.g.: golf, skiing, biking, dirt biking, boating & team sports)
Sexual Molestation and Abuse
Litigation Percentage:
100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions:
California, 1973
U.S. Federal Court, 1973
Education:
University of California, Hastings College of the Law, San Francisco, California, 1973
Doctor of Jurisprudence
Honors: Coordinator, National College of Advocacy, 1972


Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1970
B.A.
Honors: Cum Laude
Honors: Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Eta Sigma


University of Nottingham, Nottingham, England, 1969
Honors: Junior Year Abroad Program, University Scholar (1968-1969)


Published Works:
Issues in a Safety Device Case, California Trial Lawyers Association Forum, April Vol. 2, No. 3, 1981


Medical Proof in Personal Injury Litigation, Continuing Education of the Bar, 1983, 1988,1989,1991,1995, November, 1981


Coping With Worker's Compensation Issues in Third Party Cases Continuing Education of the Bar, Continuing Education of the Bar, 1984


Finding and Managing the Winning Expert, CAOC 32nd Annual Convention Syllabus, 1993


Seven Tips to Successful Mediation: Understanding the Defense Perspective, CAOC 30th Annual Convention Syllabus, 1995


How to Compel a Deposition in the United Kingdom, CAOC 35th Annual Convention Syllabus, 1996


Seeing is Believing: Your Most Persuasive Documentary Evidence May Never Be Admitted Into Evidence, SFTLA Seminar, 1997


How to Win Your Products Case with a Prompt and Through Investigation, CAOC Annual Convention Syllabus, 1998


Discovery Designed to Win Your Next Products Liability Case, SFTLA Seminar, 1998


Conducting the Binding Arbitration Hearing, CAOC Annual Convention Syllabus, 1999


Deposing the Defense Expert, Including Orthopedists and Neurologists, SFTLA Seminar, 2000


Handling An Auto Case From A to Z, Lorman Education Services Seminar, 2001


Closing Argument: The Death of a Young Child, SFTLA Seminar, 2001


The Electronic Trial, Contra Costa County Bar Association, 2003


Winning the Close Case & Increasing Your Damages with Technology, The Trial Lawyer - SFTLA, 2004


Advice for Small Firms: The Electronic Trial, Law Technology News, Jan. Vol. 12, No.1, 2005


The Unlevel Playing Field: Releases, Waivers & Assumption of Risk in Sports Premises Cases, written for the Premises Seminar of the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, November 2007


References:
Citibank, 590 Market Street, San Francisco, Ca. 94104
Classes/Seminars Taught:
Faculty, Annual Advocacy Skills Workshop, Stanford Law School, 2002 - Present


Assistant Professor of Law, Litigation/Evidence, Litigation Advocacy - Personal Injury, University of California, Hastings College of the Law, 1985 - Present


Assistant Professor of Law, Trial Evidence Course, University of California, Hastings College of Law, 1982 - Present


Medical Proof in Personal Injury Litigation, Author, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1981


Lecturer on Depositions, San Francisco Bar Association, Bridging the Gap Program, 1981


Accident Reconstruction Panelist, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1982


Handling Motor Vehicle Accident Cases, author, moderator, panelist, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1983


Gathering and Proving Medical Evidence in Personal Injury Cases, Author, Panelist, California Continuing Education of the Bar


Coping With Worker's Compensation Issues In Third Party Cases, Author, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1984


Anatomy in Personal Injury Actions, Panelist, California Continuing Education of the Bar


Worker's Compensation Issues in Third Party Cases, Lecturer, Sonoma County Trial Lawyers Association, 1985 - 1986


Preparing for Trial - The Last 100 Days, Panelist, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1990


Discovery: Depositions, Panelist, SFTLA MCLE, 1991


Handling Medical Malpractice Cases, Lecturer, SFTLA MCLE, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1991


Determining Damages in Personal Injury Actions, Panelist


"Arbitration" Panelist, State Bar of California, Litigation Section MCLE Program, 1992


Anatomy of a Civil Jury Trial, Lecturer, SFTLA, MCLE Program, 1992


Proposition 51 - Survival Techniques, Panelist, Joint CTLA/SFTLA/ACCTLA MCLE Program, 1993


Coping with Liens in Personal Injury Cases, Author, Moderator and Panelist, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1993


Joint and Several Liability, Panelist, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1993 - 1994


Finding and Managing the Winning Expert, Speaker, California Trial Lawyers Association, 32nd Annual Convention, 1993


Mock Mediation, Speaker, Consumer Attorneys of California, 30th Annual Tahoe Seminar, 1995


Avoiding Legal Malpractice, Speaker, Consumer Attorneys of California, 1995


Enforcing Depositions in the U.K., Speaker, Consumer Attorneys of California, 31st Annual Convention, 1996


Mock Direct and Cross-Examination of a Warnings Expert, San Francisco Bar Association, 1996


War Stories: Lessons Learned the Hard Way, Speaker, Consumer Attorneys of California, 35 Annual Convention, 1996


Evidence: Be Creative, Be Careful & Always Be in Control - Mediator & Speaker, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 1997


How to Win Your Products Case with a Prompt and Thorough Investigation - Speaker, Consumer Atty of California, 33rd Annual Tahoe Convention, 1998


Discovery Program - Speaker, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 1999


Taking the 'Bind' Out of Binding Arbitration: Conducting the Arbitration Hearing - Speaker, Consumer Attorneys of California, Annual Convention, 1999


Deposition Program - Speaker, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 2000


Lorman Education Services - Speaker, Auto Insurance Law and Accident Litigation, 2001


The Best of Closing Arguments Program - Speaker, A Closing Argument for the Death of a Young Child, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 2001


Direct Examination of a Neuro-Psychologist, Plaintiffs' Trial Team, American Board of Trial Advocates, Masters in Trial Program, San Francisco, California, 2004


How to Use High Tech to Prove Your Case, Winning the Close Case with Technology, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association Program, 2004


Trial Advocacy Training for Public Interest Lawyers at University San Francisco Law School, America College of Trial Lawyers (trainer), 2005


The Ultimate Technological Trial, ABOTA, Masters in Trial, 2005


Bridgeport Continuing Education, Program: Effective Use of Expert Testimony; Lecturer: "How to Effectively Cross Examine an Expert Witness", San Francisco, Ca., January 20, 2006


Lecturer: The Electronic Trial, University of San Francisco Law School, Inns of Court, San Francisco, California, May 2006


The Evidence Wheel Seminar, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, Lecturer: Evidentiary Foundations, October 10, 2006


"Cross-examination of the Defendant" in a Sexual Discrimination Case, Plaintiffs' Trial Team, American Board of Trial Advocates, Masters in Trial Program, San Francisco, California, 2007


The Electronic Trial of a Catastrophically Injured Person (Spinal Cord Injury), Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Palo Alto, California, 2007


San Francisco Meeting, Lecturer: "The School of Hard Knocks: Lessons Learned During Trial", Association of Defense Counsel (ADC), November 2, 2007


Lecturer "The Unlevel Playing Field in Sports Premises Cases: Releases, Waivers and Assumption of Risk", San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, San Francisco, November 13, 2007


Lecturer, "The Electronic Trial in Brain Damage Cases", The Brain Injury Association Annual Meeting, Silverado Country Club, Napa, California, November 16, 2007


Lecturer "Courtroom Technology for the 21st Century", American College of Trial Lawyers, 2008 Regional Meeting at the Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, California, April 5, 2008


Honors and Awards:
Recipient, American Jurisprudence Award, Estate Planning, 1973


Elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), National Board Representative for Northern California Chapter, 2007 - Present


Elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Chairman of the Civility and Professionalism Committee for Northern California Chapter, 2008 - Present


Elected to American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL), Fellow, Chair of Northern California State Committee, 2004 - 2006


Elected to International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL), Fellow


Elected to the International Society of Barristers (ISOB), State Chair for Northern California, 2008 - Present


Selected to be included in the publication Best Lawyers in America for the last ten years


Lawdragon Magazine, One of the 'Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiffs' Lawyers in America, 2006 - 2008


Named "Northern California SuperLawyer" by San Francisco Magazine every year since the inception of the honor in 2005. To be designated as a SuperLawyer it means that your peers have selected you as being in the top 5% of lawyers in Northern California.


Selected as one of the Top 100 SuperLawyers in Northern California every year since the inception of the honor in 2005. This means that out of the top 5% you are considered to be in the top100 lawyers of that group according to your peers.


Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 2002 & 2003


Finalist, Consumer Attorney of the Year, Consumer Attorneys of California, 2002 & 2003


National "Most Innovative Use of Technology During Trial" Award Recipient, 2004


"Top 100 Jury Verdicts for 2003" Award, National Law Journal


Selected as one of the Top 100 SuperLawyers in Northern California, 2007


President of Lawyer Friends of Wine, 2005 - 2008


Professional Associations and Memberships:
San Francisco Bar Association, 1973 - Present
Member


San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 1987 - Present
Board of Directors (President, 1993)


Hastings College of Law Alumni Association
President & Board of Governors


American Board of Trial Advocates
Member


American College of Trial Lawyers
Fellow (Chair of Northern California State Committee 2004-2006)


International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL)
Fellow


International Society of Barristers, 2008 - Present
State Chair, Northern California


State Bar of California


Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC)


Alameda/Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association


American Arbitration Association
Arbitrator


San Francisco and Contra Costa Counties
Arbitrator & Judge Pro Tem Panel


Court of Appeal, First Appellate Court
Mediation Panelist


Small Firm Business Magazine, 2004
Editorial Advisory Board


California Consumer Attorneys Association (Formerly CTLA), 1993 - 1999
Board of Directors


Bandcroft-Whitney
Editorial Review Bd. (proposed set covering civil procedure & torts)


CEB's California Workers Damages Practice (original publication to present)
Annual Reviewer


Lawyer Friends of Wine, 2005 - 2006
President


Orinda Baseball Association, 1995 - 1997
President


University of Nottingham Alumni Association (USA), 1991 - 1994
President


Past Employment Positions:
Hoberg, Finger, Brown & Abramson, San Francisco, CA, Trial Attorney, 1973 - 1975


Abramson & Bianco, San Francisco, CA, Trial Attorney (Partner), 1975 - 1982


Abramson Smith Waldsmith, Trial Attorney (Partner), 1979 - Present


Fraternities/Sororities:
Sigma Chi
Phi Beta Kappa
Abramson Smith Waldsmith, LLP
44 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94104
T: 415.421.7995
F: 415.421.0912 Toll-Free 888-PILAW88
Toll-Free 888-7452988
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