GREGORY L. SMITH
Education
- Rice University, BA (magna cum laude) in Philosophy and Legal Studies
- University of California, Berkeley (Boalt Hall) School of Law, J.D.
- Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, Master of International Affairs (concentration in human rights and international law)
Bar Admissions
- New York, 1993
- California, 1994 (currently on inactive status)
- U.S. District Courts for the Southern District of New York, Eastern District of New York, Northern District of California, Eastern District of California and Central District of California
- U.S. Second, Third and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals
Experience
Gregory L. Smith has spent most of his long legal career as a litigator and dispute resolution advisor and advocate at three large US law firms in San Francisco and New York and a major European law firm in Copenhagen, Denmark. He has represented a large number of Fortune 100 companies, as well as small businesses and individuals, in complex commercial and civil cases in the state and federal courts of California and New York and in contract negotiation and drafting on US and international transactions. He also has substantial experience representing clients in domestic and international arbitrations, including before FINRA.
Focus and Practice Ethic
Greg's primary focus is on the art and science of litigation – the process and strategy of resolving disputes decisively, efficiently and with the client’s larger business or personal goals in mind.
Litigation is never fun and is almost always disruptive, inconvenient, stressful and anxiety-provoking. Greg focuses on making sure clients understand the process and participate meaningfully in developing strategy, while keeping in mind their budgets, time pressures, tolerance for heightened and difficult conflict, risk comfort and their ultimate personal or business interests. Where personalities and legal positions allow, he seeks to enlist the opposing party’s lawyer as an ally in figuring out ways for the parties to resolve their dispute with minimum expense, delay and acrimony.
As a litigation generalist, Greg has litigated cases touching the law across many substantive areas, including: insurance coverage; partner and shareholder duties and liabilities; professional ethics and malpractice (attorneys and accountants); employment law (representing both employers and employees); business torts (e.g., intentional interference with contract or prospective economic advantage); “dignity” torts (e.g., defamation, false light, malicious prosecution); disputes under the U.N. Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG); other international jurisdictional, procedural and substantive issues; agency law; commercial lease disputes; the law of credit card processing; and investment disputes. Greg has also successfully represented political asylum seekers from El Salvador, Honduras, Haiti, Iraq, Russia and Cameroon.
Languages and International Experience
Greg's proficiency in several languages (French, Spanish, Danish and reading-level Portuguese) and knowledge of and experience with international law gives him unusual insight and access into the laws and legal and business cultures that influence the resolution of international disputes.
For further insight into Greg's approach to client service, please read his credo. For some examples of cases he's handled, please visit past cases.
JARED BROWN (Of Counsel)
Education
- Stanford University, BA in Religious Studies
- University of Arizona, J.D., magna cum laude, Arizona Law Review
- Beijing Language and Culture University, Certificate in Advanced Chinese
Bar Admissions
- New York, 2008
Experience
Jared is a litigation attorney with significant experience advocating on behalf of clients in federal and state court for firms in New York. He has represented individual and corporate clients in complex cases, including contract disputes, customs issues and a variety of criminal matters.
Prior to practicing law, Jared was an interpreter for a major Chinese media company and worked for a community development agency.
Languages and International Experience
Jared speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese and is proficient in Japanese.
