Business Litigation Experience
James T. Smith has more than 40 years of experience in complex commercial litigation, products liability, and white collar criminal defense nationwide. He serves both corporate and individual clients in a wide variety of industries, including technology, transportation, healthcare, aerospace, and defense, in disputes involving fraud and abuse, intellectual property, corporate governance, government and internal investigations, white collar criminal defense, breach of contract and related claims, and many other areas.
Leadership
Jim has served as vice chair of Blank Rome since 2020 and formerly served for eight years as chair of Blank Rome’s Litigation Department, overseeing attorneys across nine practice groups and 14 offices. Prior to that, Jim was the practice group leader for the Commercial Litigation group for six years. He presently co-chairs the firm’s Strategic Planning Committee and is a member of the Executive and Distribution Committees.
Accolades
Highly regarded as one of the nation’s top-rated business attorneys, Chambers USA has recognized Jim as a leader in general commercial litigation for nearly two decades, noting recently that he is considered to be a “fantastic litigator.” Some of the sources quoted in Chambers have said:
2023: “James is a strategic master. He is tough and experienced.”
2021: “He’s an exceedingly skilled litigator and trial lawyer.” “A very smart and strategic advocate.”
2020: “... a meticulous litigator who knows his business ...”
2018: “... strategically thinks ahead and figures out the best route to the solution better than anyone I have ever met ...”
2017: “... brilliant, super well-prepared and relentless …”
2016: “... He is as smart as can be—the most strategic thinker I’ve met in my life ...”