Profilo
Andrew Z. Smith is an experienced attorney who advises a wide array of clients, from Fortune 500 companies to small entrepreneurs, on complex commercial litigation and dispute resolution. His practice spans both state and federal courts, where he handles all stages of litigation, including pre-litigation counseling, discovery, trial, and appeals. Andrew is particularly focused on helping clients navigate business disputes and manage risks, offering tailored strategies for litigation avoidance and conflict resolution.
Andrew's commitment to leadership and community advocacy is equally impressive. He is actively involved in advancing the rights of the LGBTQ+ community and holds several leadership roles within and outside the firm. He currently serves as the Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Trustees for Quality Care for Children, where he was Chair from 2022 to 2024, after previously serving as Chair-Elect from 2021 to 2022. Andrew also completed the LEAD Atlanta program as part of the Class of 2023 and serves as the President of the Young Alumni/Alumnae Committee for the University of Georgia School of Law.
His dedication to both his profession and his community has earned him widespread recognition. Andrew was listed in Georgia Trend’s “40 Under 40”, shortlisted for the Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards: North America "Future Leader", and recognized by Atlanta Business Chronicle as a "Rising Star" in their Leaders in Corporate Citizenship list. Within the firm, Andrew has held key leadership positions, including Chair of the Atlanta office’s Associates Committee, and previously served as Pro Bono Committee Chair for three years. His pro bono work focuses on assisting members of the transgender community in petitioning for legal name changes, a cause close to his heart. Andrew is also an active member of Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, serving on the National Leadership Council since 2022 and recently becoming the Vice Chair for the Southern Region in 2024. His contributions have furthered the organization's mission, including his role as Corporate/Firm Outreach Chair and Co-Chair of the Atlanta Leadership Council.
Through his leadership roles and advocacy, Andrew has established himself as a dedicated and dynamic figure both in the legal profession and in his community.
Concentrations
- Commercial litigation
- Contract disputes and business torts
- Pharmaceutical, medical device & health care litigation
- Product liability litigation
- Insurance coverage litigation
Competenze
Esperienze Professionali - Attività Accademiche
- Assisted members of the transgender community to petition for legal name changes.
- Represented tenants to address rent, premises and conditions issues.
- Helped a juvenile from Guatemala seek special juvenile immigration status.
- Assisted an organization in creating liability waivers for an afterschool program.
- Advised a LGBT homeless youth shelter regarding labor and employment issues.
- Secured a complete bench trial defense verdict as first chair for a banking and financial institution.
- Obtained unanimous jury verdict as first-chair for real estate company asserting breach of contract claims against former tenant.
- Obtained dismissal with prejudice for financial institution alleged to have violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
- Defended pharmaceutical and medical device company in mass tort litigation.
- Represented school system against retaliation claim brought by former employee under the whistleblower statute. After two-week trial, the jury returned a complete defense verdict.
- Represented real estate developer in breach of contract action seeking unpaid rent, utilities, and attorneys’ fees.
- Obtained settlement in complex contract and business dispute for a logistics company.
- Firefighter, Berlin Township Fire Department, 2012-2014
- Middle School English Language Arts Interventionist and Athletic Director, National Heritage Academies, 2013-2014
- Judicial Intern, Hon. Richard Smoak, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, 2015
- Legislative Intern for State Senator Thomas Casperson, State of Michigan Senate, 2012
Riconoscimenti e Premi
- Listed, Georgia Trend, “40 Under 40,” 2023
- Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Georgia Super Lawyers, “Rising Stars,” 2021-2024
- Team Member, a Law360 “Product Liability Practice Group of the Year,” 2021
- Team Member, The American Lawyer’s “Regional Litigation Department of the Year - Georgia,” 2018 and 2021
- Shortlisted, Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards: North America, "Future Leader," 2021
- Listed, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Leaders in Corporate Citizenship, "Rising Star," 2021
- Selected, Simply Buckhead, "Rising Stars," 2020
- Recipient, Greenberg Traurig Pro Bono Awards, Honorable Mention, 2019
- Recipient, Georgia Bar Journal’s “Pro Bono All-Star,” 2019
- Member, Georgia Defense Lawyers Association, 2021-Present
- Member, Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, 2021-Present
- Leadership Council Member, Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, 2020-2023
- LEAD Atlanta Class of 2023
- Barrister, Clark-Carley American Inn of Court, 2019-2022
- Young Alumni/Alumnae Committee (YAAC), University of Georgia School of Law
- President, 2023-Present
- Member, 2019-Present
- Board of Trustees, Quality Care for Children, 2019-Present
- Immediate Past Chair, 2024 - Present
- Chair, 2022-2024
- Chair Elect, 2021-2022
- Vice Chair, 2020-2021
- Board Development Committee Chair, 2020-2022
- Member, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund
- National Leadership Council, 2022-Present
- Vice Chair (Southern Region), 2024-Present
- Atlanta Leadership Council, 2019-Present
- Corporate/Firm Outreach Chair, 2023-Present
- Co-Chair, 2021-2023
- Advancement Committee Chair, 2020-2021
- Member, American Bar Association, 2017-Present
- Member, State Bar of Georgia, 2017-Present
- Member, Atlanta Bar Association, 2017-Present
- Participant, OutLeadership’s OutNEXT Summit, 2017
- Member, Stonewall Bar Association of Georgia, 2015-Present
- Member, National LGBT Bar Association, 2017-Present
- Executive Chair (Fundraising) and Team Leader, ServiceJuris, 2016-2020
- Member, Greenberg Traurig Atlanta Associate Committee, 2018-Present
- Pro Bono Committee Chair, 2018-2021
- Executive Committee Chair, 2021-Present
- Volunteer, AVLF Saturday Lawyer Program, 2016-Present
- Instructor, “Lawyer for a Day” Program, 2017-Present
- Mentor, UGA Law Alumni/Student Program, 2017-Present
- Judge, Various Moot Court/Mock Trial State & National Competitions, 2017-Present
- National Leadership Council, 2022-Present
Formazione
-
Laurea magistrale in Giurisprudenza, cum laude, University of Georgia School of Law
- Executive Articles Editor, Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law
- Member, National Order of the Barristers
- Winner, Herman E. Talmadge Moot Court Competition, Advocate
- Pupil, Joseph Henry Lumpkin American Inn of Court
- Executive Chair, Moot Court Team
- Member, Mock Trial Team
-
Diploma di maturità, Political Science Pre-Law, with honors, Michigan State University
- Minor in Philosophy and Law
- President, Circle K International
- Michigan State Men’s Volleyball
- Georgia
- Court of Appeals of Georgia
- Supreme Court of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit