Two San Diego Partners Named “Women of Influence in Law 2021”
Colleen Smith and Jen Barry recognized by the San Diego Business Journal as leading lawyers in the region.
Colleen Smith, an experienced trial lawyer and Global Vice Chair of the firm’s Securities Litigation & Professional Liability and Public Company & Board Representation Practices, represents emerging and Fortune 500 companies and their officers and directors in high-stakes complex litigation.
Ms. Smith has secured major trial victories for clients facing enterprise-threatening liability, including in the first securities class action to go to trial in over a decade. In that matter, the jury reached a unanimous verdict in the client’s favor on the majority of claims, awarding miniscule damages.
Ms. Smith regularly defends companies and their executives against private plaintiffs claiming disclosure fraud, often achieving early dismissals on motion practice.
Ms. Smith also represents executives and boards of directors facing SEC subpoenas and investigations, as well as board committees in connection with internal investigations. Representing a technology company CEO in one such matter pursued by the SEC, Ms. Smith helped secure a unanimous defense verdict following a three-week jury trial — a Daily Journal Top Defense Verdict of 2014.
Before becoming a lawyer, Ms. Smith served as a US Naval Surface Warfare Officer on the guided missile destroyer USS Decatur (DDG 73), and was one of the first women to serve in a combatant role. After law school, she served as a law clerk for Judge David R. Thompson of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and Judge James H. Michael of the US District Court for the Western District of Virginia.
In 2021 and 2022, Ms. Smith was recognized for California Litigation: Securities by Chambers USA.
In 2021 and 2022, Ms. Smith was recognized as Next Generation by The Legal 500 US for Securities Litigation: Defense.
In 2021, Ms. Smith was named a Woman of Influence in Law by the San Diego Business Journal.
In 2019, Ms. Smith was named one of San Diego’s Most Influential Women by the San Diego Daily Transcript.
In 2017, Ms. Smith was named as a California Lawyer of the Year by the Daily Journal for her pro bono work representing US military veterans.
Ms. Smith has represented clients in a variety of major litigation matters, including:
Colleen Smith and Jen Barry recognized by the San Diego Business Journal as leading lawyers in the region.
Chambers USA recognized the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions Practice for “world class expertise when it comes to the most challenging transactions.”
For many lawyers, litigating a billion-dollar case is a once-in-a-career opportunity. Latham & Watkins partner Andrew Clubok has won three in the last year alone.