Preston Smith is a Senior Associate in the firm's Commercial Litigation & White Collar Defense & Investigations practices. Preston represents companies and executives in commercial litigation in state and federal courts, government investigations pursed by DOJ and the SEC, and in internal investigations and compliance reviews.
Preston has litigated cases spanning contractual disputes, RICO, environmental torts, real estate litigation, and other business disputes, up to trial and appeal, and advises on transactions. He has conducted direct and cross-examinations of fact and expert witnesses, argued motions, and has worked on complex discovery matters. Preston also represents multinational companies and individuals in internal and government investigations conducted by DOJ, SEC, and state attorneys general relating to the FCPA, Consumer Product Safety Act, and the FCA.
Preston was recognized by the Virginia Access to Justice Commission as a Pro Bono Service Champion for his pro bono work, which includes representing criminal defendants in federal and state court, defending voting rights, and protecting immigrant workers. He also spent eight months as a Loaned Associate with the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia where he worked in the Housing Law group and regularly appeared in court to fight for his clients' ability to secure and maintain safe housing.
Experience
- BAPS, a major denomination of Hinduism, in an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and the Civil Rights Division of DOJ involving allegations of visa fraud and forced labor relating to the construction of the largest Hindu stone temple in North America.
- Wolverine World Wide in a putative class action lawsuit that sought property damage and medical monitoring and personal injury suits related to PFAS chemicals and drinking water in Western Michigan.
- BP in climate change lawsuits filed by state and local governments and by a fishermen's trade association, alleging that greenhouse gas-driven sea level rise is currently damaging their coastal communities and civil infrastructures.
- Sales executive of pharmaceutical manufacturer as counsel in criminal antitrust investigation by DOJ and civil investigations by several state attorneys general.
- North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP in challenge to voter identification law as violating the Voting Rights Act.
- General counsel of global telecommunications conglomerate in FCPA investigation by DOJ and SEC and anti-corruption investigation by Dutch and Norwegian authorities.
- Johnson Controls in successful federal trial defense against nearly $16 million in claimed damages related to project at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. Also successful on nonpayment counterclaim, with client awarded over $6 million in damages.
- Young Yi, CEO of First Class Sleep Diagnostics in successful federal jury trial involving charges of healthcare fraud and tax evasion.
- Global automotive parts manufacturer in DOJ antitrust investigation into alleged price fixing and bid rigging in the automotive parts industry.
Perspectives
Recognition
Credentials
Education
- J.D., American University, Washington College of Law, 2013, cum laude
- B.S., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Admissions
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
Clerkships
- Superior Court of the District of Columbia, The Honorable Rhonda Reid Winston
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, The Honorable Gerald Bruce Lee