Arent Fox Announces New Leaders for Complex Litigation and International Trade Practices

“These partners are highly-accomplished and experienced attorneys who have long demonstrated a commitment to client service and the firm,” said Managing Partner Cristina A. Carvalho. “Their talent and dedication to team building will serve them well when bringing new perspective to their groups.”

As leader of the Complex Litigation practice, Mr. Smith previously was head of the DC office litigation group and has amassed 25 years of experience handling jury, bench, and administrative trials in state and federal courts across the country. His unique background includes decorated service as a General Courts-Martial Judge for the Department of the Navy, in addition to roles as the Chief Navy Reserve Trial Judge and as an appellate judge for the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeal. He now is a go-to litigator for clients that encompass all branches of health care and life sciences, including Big Pharma, large hospitals, and medical device suppliers and manufacturers.

The Complex Litigation practice boasts more than 150 litigators — including former federal and state prosecutors, regulators, and governmental enforcement officials — who routinely argue bet-the-company cases in federal and state courts across the country for diverse clients in industries ranging from technology, life sciences, and food and beverage, to finance, media, and real estate. Strategic, aggressive, and innovative, Arent Fox’s litigators have been recognized by Chambers USA for its “streamlined” approach that delivers results.

Mr. Smith will work closely with Complex Litigation office leaders Allan E. Anderson in Los Angeles, whose practice encompasses a wide variety of matters, from trademarks and trade secrets, to patent infringement, copyright, and false advertising and M. Scott Peeler in New York, who works on all aspects of white-collar criminal defense and has extensive experience handling complex civil litigation.

Ms. Georgi is succeeding Matthew Nolan as leader of the International Trade practice. Mr. Nolan spent the last six years managing the group and helped the firm develop new areas of focus, particularly in International Arbitration & Dispute Resolution. Ms. Georgi has been an integral member of the Trade team for more than a decade, focusing her practice on export control and sanctions, FCPA work, and customs matters. The International Trade group represents and advises US, non-US, and government entities in a broad range of cross-border matters, including customs/import compliance, global trade policy, international trade litigation, export controls and sanctions, and international anti-corruption and the FCPA.