Snipes, Benny A.

William Smith has been a trial attorney representing consumers in San Francisco since 1973.  By reading his lawyer profile you can learn about his extensive background.  You will be able to see how active he is in key legal organizations and in teaching other lawyers and law students how to successfully develop cases to maximize the outcome for their clients.  Over the last 39 years he has represented clients up and down the State of California, all over the United States, Canada and Europe.

Mr. Smith specializes in major personal injury and wrongful death cases and only represents victims. Mr. Smith does this because he has always fought for the underdog who needs someone in his or her corner to go up against the major corporations, public entities and insurance companies who would otherwise roll over those less powerful or influential. He tends to think that he can help level out the playing field for his clients. Mr. Smith carefully selects his cases and clients looking for matters where he can make a difference. He then personally handles all of his cases. 

Mr. Smith has been included in the national publication The Best Lawyers in America for the last 15 years.  He was named the Best San Francisco Personal Injury Litigator for San Francisco by The Best Lawyers publication for 2011. 

Mr. Smith has been selected to be in the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Northern California for every year the publication has existed and has been selected to be one of the top 500 plaintiffs' lawyers in the nation by Lawdragon Magazine for 2006-2008. Mr. Smith believes in paying back the system and has devoted himself to teaching trial practice courses at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and Stanford University Law School. He also serves as a Pro Tem judge in two Bay Area counties.

He is one of a handful of lawyers in California who has been honored by being elected by his peers to be a member of the four key national trial lawyer organizations: The American Board of Trial Advocates, The American College of Trial Lawyers, The International Academy of Trial Lawyers and The International Society of Barristers.

Mr. Smith also frequently acts as a mediator and has mediated cases involving millions of dollars.

Honors and Awards: 
 
     Elected to American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
 
     Elected to American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL)
 
     Elected to International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL)
 
     Elected to International Society of Barristers (ISOB)
 
     Elected to Litigation Counsel of America (LCA)
 
     Selected to be listed in Best Lawyers in America for the last 15 years
          -Named "Personal Injury Litigator of the Year" for San Francisco in the 2011 edition
    of San Francisco's Best Lawyers, The Definitive Guide to Legal Representation in
    the Greater San Francisco Area
 
     Selected to be a "Northern California SuperLawyer by San Francisco Magazine every
     year since its inception in 2005.  To be designated as a SuperLawyer means that
     your peers have determined that you are in the top 5% of lawyers in your field in
     Northern California.
          -Selected as one of the Top 100 SuperLawyers in Northern California every year
    since 2005.  This means that out of the top 5% you are considered to be
    one of the Top 100.
 
     Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association,
     2002 and 2003
 
     Consumer Attorney of the Year Finalist, Consumer Attorneys of California,
     2002 and 2003
 
     National "Most Innovative Use of Technology During Trial" Award, 2004 
 
     "Top 100 Jury Verdicts for 2003" Award, National Law Journal
 
Professional Associations and Memberships:
 
     State Bar of California, 1973 to present
 
     University of California, Hastings College of Law Alumni Association, President 1983.
 
     San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, President 1993
 
     Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC)
          -Board of Directors:  1993-98
 
     American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA):
          -Rank = Advocate
          -President of San Francisco Chapter: 2011-12.
          -Executive Committee member for San Francisco Chapter
          -Chairman of San Francisco Chapter's Civility and Professionalism Committee
          -National ABOTA Board Member
          -Co-Chairman of National ABOTA Civility and Professionalism Committee
          -Member of National ABOTA Membership Committee
          -Cal-ABOTA Board Member
 
     American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL):
          -State Chair, 2004-6
          -Northern California State Committee, 1999 to Present
 
     International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL):
          -Fellow
 
     International Society of Barristers (ISOB):
          -State Chair, 2008-2012
          -National Membership Chair, 2012-2015.
          -Board of Governors, 2010-present
 
     Litigation Counsel of America:
          -Fellow.
 
     Lawyer Friends of Wine (LFW):
          -President 2005-08.
          -Board of Directors 2000 to present
 
     University of Nottingham (England) Alumni Association for USA.
          -President 1991-4
 
     Orinda Baseball Association:
          -President 1995-97
 
     San Francisco and Contra Costa Counties:
          -Judge Pro Tem and arbitrator
 
     California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District.
          -Mediation Panelist