William B Smith 44 Montgomery Street Suite 3340 San Francisco, California 94104-4806 |  |
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William Smith has been a trial attorney representing consumers in San Francisco since 1973. By reading his lawyer profile you can learn about his extensive background. You will be able to see how active he is in key legal organizations and in teaching other lawyers and law students how to successfully develop cases to maximize the outcome for their clients. Over the last 39 years he has represented clients up and down the State of California, all over the United States, Canada and Europe.
Mr. Smith specializes in major personal injury and wrongful death cases and only represents victims. Mr. Smith does this because he has 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. He tends to think that he can help level out the playing field for his clients. Mr. Smith carefully selects his cases and clients looking for matters where he can make a difference. He then personally handles all of his cases.
Mr. Smith has been included in the national publication The Best Lawyers in America for the last 15 years. He was named the Best San Francisco Personal Injury Litigator for San Francisco by The Best Lawyers publication for 2011.
Mr. Smith has been selected to be in the Top 100 Super Lawyers 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.
Mr. Smith also frequently acts as a mediator and has mediated cases involving millions of dollars.
Honors and Awards:
Elected to American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
Elected to American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL)
Elected to International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL)
Elected to International Society of Barristers (ISOB)
Elected to Litigation Counsel of America (LCA)
Selected to be listed in Best Lawyers in America for the last 15 years
-Named "Personal Injury Litigator of the Year" for San Francisco in the 2011 edition
of San Francisco's Best Lawyers, The Definitive Guide to Legal Representation in
the Greater San Francisco Area
Selected to be a "Northern California SuperLawyer by San Francisco Magazine every
year since its inception in 2005. To be designated as a SuperLawyer means that
your peers have determined that you are in the top 5% of lawyers in your field in
Northern California.
-Selected as one of the Top 100 SuperLawyers in Northern California every year
since 2005. This means that out of the top 5% you are considered to be
one of the Top 100.
Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association,
2002 and 2003
Consumer Attorney of the Year Finalist, Consumer Attorneys of California,
2002 and 2003
National "Most Innovative Use of Technology During Trial" Award, 2004
"Top 100 Jury Verdicts for 2003" Award, National Law Journal
Professional Associations and Memberships:
State Bar of California, 1973 to present
University of California, Hastings College of Law Alumni Association, President 1983.
San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, President 1993
Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC)
-Board of Directors: 1993-98
American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA):
-Rank = Advocate
-President of San Francisco Chapter: 2011-12.
-Executive Committee member for San Francisco Chapter
-Chairman of San Francisco Chapter's Civility and Professionalism Committee
-National ABOTA Board Member
-Co-Chairman of National ABOTA Civility and Professionalism Committee
-Member of National ABOTA Membership Committee
-Cal-ABOTA Board Member
American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL):
-State Chair, 2004-6
-Northern California State Committee, 1999 to Present
International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL):
-Fellow
International Society of Barristers (ISOB):
-State Chair, 2008-2012
-National Membership Chair, 2012-2015.
-Board of Governors, 2010-present
Litigation Counsel of America:
-Fellow.
Lawyer Friends of Wine (LFW):
-President 2005-08.
-Board of Directors 2000 to present
University of Nottingham (England) Alumni Association for USA.
-President 1991-4
Orinda Baseball Association:
-President 1995-97
San Francisco and Contra Costa Counties:
-Judge Pro Tem and arbitrator
California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District.
-Mediation Panelist
- 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
- Bar Admissions:
- California, 1973
- U.S. District Court Northern District of California, 1973
- U.S. District Court Central District of California, 1992
- U.S. District Court Southern District of California, 1987
- 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
- "The Unlevel Playing Field in Sports Premises Cases: Releases, Waivers & Assumption of Risk", Consumer Attorneys of California, Annual Ski Seminar at Beaver Creek, Colorado, February, 2009
- Civility: Setting The Tone For Respect, ABOTA's Voir Dire Magazine, Submitted for publication in 2009
- Annual Reviewer, CEB's California Workers Damages Practice (Original Publication to Present)
- Mediation Is Not the Only Way to Successfully Resolve Your Case: How to Recognize and Capitalize on Other Settlement Opportunities, William B. Smith and Doris Cheng, presented at the Advanced Settlement Techniques program for the Trial Lawyers Association, San Francisco, California, March 2010
- Demonstrating the Invisible Injury: Making an Impact with Video Settlement Documentaries in Traumatic Brain Injury Cases", William B. Smith and Rob and Keiko Feldman, CAOC Forum Magazine, March 2010, presented at the CAOC Beaver Creek Ski Seminar, Beaver Creek, Colorado, Feb.10, 2010
- "How to Avoid The Downward Spiral of Incivility", prepared for the Northern California ABOTA Civility Program, November 2010.
- Classes/Seminars Taught:
- Panelist, ABOTA Civility Matters Program, Pillsbury, Winthop, Shaw and Pittman LLP, San Francisco, California, May 2013
- ABOTA Civility Matters Program, Panelist, ASCDC Convention, The Biltmore, Los Angeles, California, March 1, 2013
- ABOTA Civility Matters Program, Panelist, University of California, Irvine School of Law, Irvine, California, April 4, 2013
- Panelist: "The (de) Evolution of the Primary Assumption of Risk Doctrine in California: Nalwa v. Cedar Fair et. al, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, Annual Ski Seminar at Incline Village, Nevada., February 1, 2013
- ABOTA Civility Matters Program: Panelist, FDCC Annual Convention, The Biltmore, Scottsdale, Arizona., March 7, 2012
- Tahoe Ski Seminar, February 24, 2012: How to Handle Sports Cases: Releases and Primary Assumption of Risk, presentation with Anthony Label, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association
- ABOTA Civility Matters: Panelist, March 23, 2012, Western States Bar Association Conference, The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada.
- Lecturer, "Overcoming Releases and Assumption of Risk: An Updated View", Consumer Attorneys of California, Annual Ski Seminar at Beaver Creek, Colorado, February 8, 2011
- Panelist and Moderator, "Civility Matters" put on by ABOTA and JAMS at Murphy, Pearson and Bradley, San Francisco, California, March 23, 2011
- Lecturer, "Strategies for Sports and Recreation Cases", San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, Roundtable Presentation, March 22, 2011
- Panelist and Moderator: Advanced Settlement Techniques, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, San Francisco, California, March 2010
- Presenter: Traumatic Brain Injury: The Invisible Injury, Consumer Attorneys of California, Ski Seminar at Beaver Creek, Colorado, February 2010
- "Civility Matters" Panel, Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, San Francisco, California, January 2010
- Panelist, ABOTA/JAMS Civility Matters Program, Solano County Bar Association, Fairfield, California, October 28, 2010
- Panelist and moderator, Use of Graphics and Demonstrative Evidence at Trial, San Francisco Bar Association, Probate Section, San Francisco, California, October 5, 2010
- Panelist and Moderator, "Civility Matters" put on by ABOTA and JAMS, at Hanson Bridgett Law Firm, San Francisco, California, December 13, 2010
- Panelist, Civility Matters - Part 2, Principles of Civility, Integrity and Professionalism, Sonoma County Bar Association, Barristers Club, Santa Rosa, California, October 12, 2010
- Lecturer, "Understanding and Preparing a Frontal Lobe Case for Trial", The California Brain Injury Association Annual Meeting, Silverado Country Club, Napa, California, November 5, 2010
- Panelist and Moderator, "Civility Matters!", 2010 MCLE Spectacular , Contra Costa County Bar Association, November 19, 2010
- Panelist and Moderator, "Civility Matters!", 51st Annual Meeting, Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada (ADC), December 10, 2010
- Panelist and Moderator, "Civility Matters", put on by ABOTA and JAMS, at Severson and Werson Law Firm, San Francisco, California, December 15, 2010
- Lecturer, "Proving the Invisible Brain Injury", The Brain Injury Association Annual Meeting, Silverado Country Club, Napa, California, November 20, 2009
- Lecturer, "The Unlevel Playing Field in Sports Premises Cases: Releases, Waivers and Assumption of Risk", Consumer Attorneys of California, Annual Ski Seminar at Beaver Creek Colorado, 2009
- The Latest Electronic Demonstrative Evidence and How to Present It, University of California, Hastings College of Law, Pretrial Practice Class, September 2009
- Panelist, Civility Matters: Strike Force Program Panel, Drinker Biddle Law Firm, San Francisco, California, November 18, 2009
- Speaker and Faculty Member, ABOTA Masters in Demonstrative Evidence Program, San Francisco, California, May 28, 2009
- Panelist, "Ethics: Civility Matters!", (Also simulcast on the web statewide), The State Bar of California, Litigation Section, San Francisco, California, December 5, 2009
- Lecturer/Moderator, "Are Your Jurors Awake? Persuading By Use of 21st Century Trial Technology", American College of Trial Lawyers, September 2008 Annual Meeting, Sheraton Centre, Toronto, Canada, September 27, 2008
- 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
- Lecturer, "Civility Matters!", ABOTA, University of California, Hastings College of Law, October 29, 2008
- 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
- The Electronic Trial of a Catastrophically Injured Person (Spinal Cord Injury), Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Palo Alto, California, 2007
- "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
- Lecturer, "The Electronic Trial in Brain Damage Cases", The Brain Injury Association Annual Meeting, Silverado Country Club, Napa, California, November 16, 2007
- San Francisco Meeting, Lecturer: "The School of Hard Knocks: Lessons Learned During Trial", Association of Defense Counsel (ADC), November 2, 2007
- 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
- The Ultimate Technological Trial, ABOTA, Masters in Trial, 2005
- Trial Advocacy Training for Public Interest Lawyers at University San Francisco Law School, America College of Trial Lawyers (trainer), 2005
- 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
- Faculty, Annual Advocacy Skills Workshop, Stanford Law School, 2002 - Present
- The Best of Closing Arguments Program - Speaker, A Closing Argument for the Death of a Young Child, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 2001
- Lorman Education Services - Speaker, Auto Insurance Law and Accident Litigation, 2001
- Deposition Program - Speaker, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 2000
- 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
- How to Win Your Products Case with a Prompt and Thorough Investigation - Speaker, Consumer Atty of California, 33rd Annual Tahoe Convention, 1998
- Evidence: Be Creative, Be Careful & Always Be in Control - Mediator & Speaker, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 1997
- War Stories: Lessons Learned the Hard Way, Speaker, Consumer Attorneys of California, 35 Annual Convention, 1996
- Mock Direct and Cross-Examination of a Warnings Expert, San Francisco Bar Association, 1996
- Enforcing Depositions in the U.K., Speaker, Consumer Attorneys of California, 31st Annual Convention, 1996
- Mock Mediation, Speaker, Consumer Attorneys of California, 30th Annual Tahoe Seminar, 1995
- Avoiding Legal Malpractice, Speaker, Consumer Attorneys of California, 1995
- Joint and Several Liability, Panelist, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1993 - 1994
- Coping with Liens in Personal Injury Cases, Author, Moderator and Panelist, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1993
- Proposition 51 - Survival Techniques, Panelist, Joint CTLA/SFTLA/ACCTLA MCLE Program, 1993
- Finding and Managing the Winning Expert, Speaker, California Trial Lawyers Association, 32nd Annual Convention, 1993
- "Arbitration" Panelist, State Bar of California, Litigation Section MCLE Program, 1992
- Anatomy of a Civil Jury Trial, Lecturer, SFTLA, MCLE Program, 1992
- Handling Medical Malpractice Cases, Lecturer, SFTLA MCLE, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1991
- Discovery: Depositions, Panelist, SFTLA MCLE, 1991
- Preparing for Trial - The Last 100 Days, Panelist, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1990
- Worker's Compensation Issues in Third Party Cases, Lecturer, Sonoma County Trial Lawyers Association, 1985 - 1986
- Assistant Professor of Law, Litigation/Evidence, Litigation Advocacy - Personal Injury, University of California, Hastings College of the Law, 1985 - Present
- Coping With Worker's Compensation Issues In Third Party Cases, Author, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1984
- Handling Motor Vehicle Accident Cases, author, moderator, panelist, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1983
- Assistant Professor of Law, Trial Evidence Course, University of California, Hastings College of Law, 1982 - Present
- Accident Reconstruction Panelist, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1982
- 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
- Determining Damages in Personal Injury Actions, Panelist
- Gathering and Proving Medical Evidence in Personal Injury Cases, Author, Panelist, California Continuing Education of the Bar
- Anatomy in Personal Injury Actions, Panelist, California Continuing Education of the Bar
- Past Employment Positions:
- Hoberg, Finger, Brown & Abramson, San Francisco, CA, Trial Attorney, 1973 - 1975
- Abramson & Bianco, San Francisco, CA, Trial Attorney (Partner), 1975 - 1982
- Fraternities/Sororities:
- Sigma Chi
- Phi Beta Kappa
