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215-608-9645

William Smith

Partner

Contact

P: (213) 782-5852

Office Locations

6060 Center Drive, 10th FloorLos Angeles, CA 90045P: (424) 419-1634
130 N 18th St #1600Philadelphia, PA 19103P: (215) 929-8822

William is a trial lawyer whose practice focuses on complex civil litigation, including catastrophic personal injury and mass torts involving consumer products and sexual assault. William plays vital roles in several multidistrict litigations, working to advance the interests of plaintiffs nationwide. For example, a federal judge appointed William to serve as a member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for the multidistrict litigation regarding Toxic Heavy Metals in commercial Baby Food. William also plays a role on subcommittees to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in the multidistrict litigation regarding Uber drivers sexually assaulting passengers. William’s work on behalf of his clients has not gone unnoticed. The National Trial Lawyers recognize William’s fierce advocacy as one of their Top 40 under 40 lawyers for plaintiffs.

Earlier in William’s career, he was an associate at Kirkland and Ellis, LLP, where he litigated high-stakes cases for plaintiffs and corporate defendants.

In his time at Kirkland, William served as trial counsel for defendants in multiple products liability trials. In 2018, William was a key member of a trial team that secured a favorable verdict in what Law 360 described as a “Top Product Liability Case of 2018.”

The following year, William’s trial team won what Courtroom View Network called one of the “Top 10 Most Impressive Defense Verdicts” of 2019. At Kirkland, William also maintained an active pro-bono practice where he specialized in fighting for the rights of unhoused, incarcerated, and low-income plaintiffs in personal injury cases.

William grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, where he studied Drama at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities. He earned his B.A. in Political Science and Theater Studies from Yale University.

William graduated from Harvard Law School in 2018. At Harvard, he was an active member of the Harvard Defenders, a student practice organization that represents defendants in criminal show-cause hearings in Massachusetts.

Practice Areas

  • Personal Injury
  • Mass Torts
  • Products Liability
  • Police Misconduct and Civil Rights

Admissions

  • California
  • Supreme Court of California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • United States District Court, Central District of California
  • United States District Court, Northern District of California

Awards & Accolades

  • National Trial Lawyers - Top 40 Under 40 - Civil Plaintiff

Education

  • Harvard Law School, 2018. J.D.
  • Yale University, 2012. B.A, Political Science and Theater Studies

Associations & Memberships

  • American Association for Justice
  • John M. Langston Bar Association

Representative Cases

  • In Re: Baby Food Products Liability Litigation, member of Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee
  • In Re: Baby Food Products Liability Litigation
  • In Re: 3M Combat Arms Earplug Products Liability Litigation