Mr. Smith led litigation practice groups at several large firms; Served as first chair on scores of cases for banks and other financial institutions

Expanding its team of leading litigators in the corporate and banking world, Phillips Nizer LLP has added prominent litigator Jeffrey Q. Smith to its ranks.

Mr. Smith joins Phillips Nizer’s New York office from Morgan, Lewis &Bockius, where he received accolades from numerous legal ranking organizations including Chambers USA. He had previously led the litigation practices at Cadwalader and McKee Nelson.

 Mr. Smith has served as first chair on scores of cases for financial services industry companies and has a strong and diverse national litigation practice with concentrations in securities, antitrust/trade regulation and other complex commercial matters. He has defended board directors and officers, broker-dealers and securities issuers in the full range of securities lawsuits, including in investigations by the SEC and self-regulatory organizations. Other sectors where Mr. Smith has handled cases include consumer lending, employment, intellectual property, health care reimbursement and merger agreements.

 At Phillips Nizer, Mr. Smith is rejoining two colleagues from his days at Bingham McCutchen, Mark Elliott, the chair of Phillips Nizer’s litigation department and litigation partner Jared Clark.

 “Jeffrey is one of the go-to trial attorneys for financial services firms. His experience in trials and litigations, in managing complex cases with many moving parts and as a practice group leader has made him one of the most sought after attorneys in NY. He is a great addition to our growing litigation department who will enhance the range of services we can provide to our clients and be a perfect complement to our team,” said Mr. Elliott.

 Besides his deep experience in the supervision and management of large cases, Mr. Smith is also well versed in various forms of alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation, and maintains an active counseling practice designed to help clients avoid and/or minimize litigation risks. He has testified before Congressional committees and regulatory agencies.

 “I am pleased to be joining Phillips Nizer, a firm with a great reputation for providing top quality service for clients. I expect that at Phillips Nizer we will be able to handle a larger universe of matters, as well as providing a greater number of services to our clients, such as serving as a neutral and independent monitor/counsel,” said Mr. Smith.

 Mr. Smith earned his J.D. from New York University School of Law, and his undergraduate degree from Yale University.