Chad Smith
Complex Litigation & Dispute Resolution Career Associate
Wheeling, W.V. (GOIC)Chad Smith is a litigation associate in Orrick’s Complex Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice. His practice focuses on high stakes general commercial litigation and product liability matters, often involving multiple parties.
Chad takes on complex matters and has a keen ability to master the facts in a case so that they can be wielded in a way that is meaningful to the outcome for his clients. In both complex corporate litigation and criminal matters, Chad’s ability to digest large amounts of information and zero in on what is meaningful has led to an extensive track record of success in offensive and defensive briefings on motions and complex pleadings. His clients range from corporate executives to sophisticated investors to tech companies facing criminal and complex litigation. Chad was also part of the Orrick team that won the Financial Times Innovation Prize for its ability to deliver novel solutions for business processes.
Chad maintains a pro bono practice which centers on prisoners’ rights. He worked extensively on an administrative challenge to Nebraska’s execution protocol, which was ultimately argued to the Nebraska Supreme Court, and currently represents an inmate challenging Louisiana’s non-unanimous jury verdicts.
Chad was a summer associate with Orrick in 2017, and he is a December 2017 graduate of The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law, where he was an Articles Editor of the Ohio State Law Journal. Chad also received a CALI Award for Excellence in Corporate Governance Law and Business Bankruptcy. He received his undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University, majoring in Economics and Political Science.
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Chad's experience includes:
- Successful defensive briefing on motions to dismiss for investors holding nearly a billion dollars in life insurance policies.
- Successful offensive briefing on motion to dismiss and motion for summary judgment for large regional law firm facing a malpractice action.
- Successful offensive and defensive briefing on motions to compel against major life insurance companies.
- Complex pleadings – both answers and complaints.
- An expert report related to major life insurer’s actions in high-profile rate increases.
- Successful defeat of class certification for major technology company (Microsoft).
- Representation of current and former executives facing investigations by U.S. regulatory authorities.
- Represented plaintiffs in actions pending in federal district court against major life insurance companies regarding their cost of insurance rate increases on universal life insurance policies.
- Represented major loan servicer in class action regarding pricing of valuation services.
- Worked with a national company in regulatory compliance review of their marketing materials.
- Assisted in drafting a brief to a state supreme court challenging the state's adoption of its execution protocol.
- Staffed on a matter that won a Financial Times innovation award for its ability to deliver novel solutions for business processes.