Veteran Trial Lawyer DeMaurice 'De' Smith Joins Patton Boggs LLP

4 November 2006

Patton Boggs LLP is pleased to announce that DeMaurice "De" Smith has joined the firm as a partner in the firm's litigation group. Mr. Smith will focus on white-collar criminal defense matters and high-profile tort liability trials. He joins Patton Boggs from the Washington, DC office of Latham & Watkins.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061102/DCTH504 )

A veteran lawyer with lead or "first chair" responsibility in over eighty federal and state jury trials to verdict, Mr. Smith has been consistently recognized as an outstanding trial lawyer and teacher. He has argued numerous cases before the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and District of Columbia Court of Appeals, and has defended individuals in high profile criminal cases, and Congressional investigations, while also representing Fortune 500 companies in both criminal and complex civil cases.

Mr. Smith is currently the President of the Assistant United States Attorney's Association and is a member of the Board of Governors for the District of Columbia Bar Association.

"We warmly welcome De to the firm and are excited about his addition to our growing litigation practice. His valuable trial experience and impressive track record of success will provide our team with enhanced knowledge and an even greater range of capabilities," noted Stuart Pape, firm Managing Partner. "He is the type of seasoned leader that will inspire his colleagues."

Mr. Smith has represented corporations and individuals in both criminal and administrative matters. He specializes in matters pending before the US Attorney's Office, Department of Justice, US Congress, DOJ Antitrust Division and the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, he has provided corporate trial representation in complex civil cases and arbitrations, class action litigation, complex personal injury, and mass tort trials.

From 1991 to 1998, he served as an Assistant US Attorney in the District of Columbia US Attorney's Office, including service as a senior prosecutor in the Violent Crime Section and the Transnational/Major Crimes Sections of the office. From 1998 to 1999, Mr. Smith served as Counsel to Deputy Attorney General, Eric Holder. He was the US Attorney's Office's Lead Representative to the Law Enforcement Inaugural Committee and served in the US Secret Service's Multi-Agency Command Center during the 2001 Presidential Inauguration.

He has received numerous US Attorney's Office Special Achievement Awards and honors from federal and local law enforcement and community groups, including special commendations from the US Secret Service, Drug Enforcement Agency, the US Marshal's Service and the Metropolitan Police Department, including receiving the United States Attorney's Office Leadership Team Award.

Mr. Smith is a multiple award recipient from the US Attorney's Office and the Department of Justice, a faculty member for the National Trial Advocacy College in Charlottesville, Virginia and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. In addition he has received several other prestigious awards including Best Lawyers in Washington, Best Lawyers in America, and was named to Washingtonian magazine's Young Guns: Top 40 Lawyers under 40.

A frequent legal commentator on MSNBC's Hardball, Abram's Report, CNN, NBC, Court-TV and Fox television, Mr. Smith also teaches classes on trial advocacy at the University of Virginia, George Washington University and American University.

He holds a J.D., from the University of Virginia, (1989 With Honors) and earned a B.A. from Cedarville College, (1985).

Patton Boggs LLP

Based in Washington, DC, Patton Boggs is a national leader in public policy, litigation and business law, and is well known for its deep bipartisan roots in the national political arena. The firm's core practice areas are Public Policy and Regulatory, Litigation, Business and Intellectual Property. With offices in Northern Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Dallas, Denver, Anchorage, and internationally in Doha, Qatar, more than 450 lawyers provide comprehensive, practical and cost-effective legal counsel to clients around the globe. For more information, visit us at http://www.pattonboggs.com.

Source: prnewswire

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