Irwin, Barbara L.

Brian Smith is a counsel in the Litigation/Controversy Department, and a member of the Business Trial Group and the Investigations and Criminal Litigation Practice Group. He joined the firm in 2005, and returned in 2008 after completing an appointment as a judicial clerk on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

Practice

Mr. Smith's practice focuses on criminal and civil litigation, internal investigations and international arbitration. His practice includes issues of e-discovery, specifically, management of document collection, review and production.

Mr. Smith has represented clients in a broad range of commercial litigation and arbitration matters, including intellectual property litigation in federal court and before the International Trade Commission and commercial disputes in international arbitration proceedings. Mr. Smith also has substantial experience representing clients in parallel criminal and civil investigations by the U.S. government, including the Department of Justice and the Internal Revenue Service.

Recent Highlights

• Representing a global financial institution in connection with inquiries by various government entities related to offshore accounts of US tax payers and the institution's cross-border business.
• Representing a leading European telecommunications company in a dispute concerning the alleged formation of a settlement agreement. Arbitration was cited in Geneva, and was conducted under the ICC rules.
• Representing a leading manufacturing company in an ICC arbitration sited in Zurich involving an alleged breach of an intellectual property license.

Professional Activities

Mr. Smith is a member of the District of Columbia Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association. Mr. Smith is a board member of Miriam’s Kitchen, a non-profit organization with the mission of ending chronic homelessness in Washington DC.

Mr. Smith shares in the firm’s commitment to pro bono service. He has represented a non-profit organization in an alleged breach of contract dispute in DC Superior Court. Mr. Smith is currently involved in a multi-front effort to free a musician imprisoned in the Cameroon. He also represents a class of federal law enforcement agents in a Title VII suit against a US federal agency.