Smith Recognized as a ‘Pro Bono Service Champion’ by the Virginia Access to Justice Commission
Arnold & Porter Commercial Litigation senior associate Preston Smith was recognized as a “Pro Bono Service Champion” by the Virginia Access to Justice Commission for his outstanding pro bono contributions throughout 2020 and 2021. This prestigious award is presented to the top 10 members of the Virginia Bar with the highest number of pro bono hours for the bar year. The Virginia Access to Justice Commission was created on September 12, 2013, by order of the Supreme Court of Virginia, and is co-chaired by Chief Justice S. Bernard Goodwyn and John E. Whitfield. Smith received the award during the Chief Justice’s Pro Bono Summit and the Supreme Court of Virginia.
“I am honored to be recognized by the Virginia Access to Justice Commission for my pro bono work,” Smith said. “In addition to supporting my commercial practice, Arnold & Porter has allowed me to work with Dan Cantor, James W. Cooper, John Freedman, Ian Hoffman, Mary Kennedy, and Jon Stern. I’ve worked closely with each of them on pro bono matters and their guidance and support routinely places me in a position to achieve consequential, and often life-changing, results for our clients. I look forward to continuing our work representing individuals, entities, and institutions alike in our goal of effecting meaningful change through our pro bono service.”
Smith is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received his J.D. from the American University Washington College of Law. Smith joined Arnold & Porter following clerkships with Judge Rhonda Reid Winston of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and Judge Gerald Bruce Lee of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Some of Smith’s recent pro bono work includes the representation of criminal defendants in federal and state court, securing settlements for abused prisoners and immigrant workers, defending voting rights, and helping advance reforms of a DC-area police department. Smith 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 to fight for his clients’ ability to secure and maintain safe housing.
Outside of his pro bono work, Smith’s practice also includes representing companies and individuals in complex commercial disputes, defending clients under investigation by state and federal governments, and internal investigations.
