William Benjamin Smith
About William
Biography
I have been practicing for 40 years representing victims of severe personal injury and wrongful death. I am a trial lawyer who is fully prepared and ready to try your case before a jury if the defendants are unwilling to settle.
I have been very involved with legal education and teaching other lawyers how to be effective advocates.. I have taught at UC Hastings College of the Law, Stanford University Law School, University of San Francisco Law School and Golden Gate University School of Law. i have taught courses in civility for lawyers and law students all across California and other nearby states.
Our law firm is a pioneer in using technology to maximize damages for our clients.
We have won a national award for that and we continue to improvise to make
trials shorter and a jury's job easier.
I have been elected to all of the key trial lawyer organizations by my peers. I have taken on leadership roles in many of them.
When I am not working for my clients, I am an avid skier and cyclist. If you want to know more about my background, go to where you will find a detailed resume.
Practice Areas
5
Practice Areas
54 years | 100 cases
54 years | 700 cases
54 years | 200 cases
54 years | 1,000 cases
Fees and Rates
Cost
33%-40%
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in California for 52 years
State: California
Acquired: 1973
No misconduct found
Location
Abramson Smith Waldsmith, LLP
44 Montgomery Street Suite 3340, San Francisco, CA, 94104
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William Benjamin Smith's Reviews
Showing 1 - 2 of 2 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by Paul | December 9, 2011
An Excellent Attorney
Mr. Smith is one of the most excellent attorneys I've ever interacted with.
Posted by Maria E. Lacayo | December 4, 2011
The best of the best!
I highly recommend Mr.Smith and his staff. Very professional, caring and aggressive on our case. The best lawyer in the USA. Thanks to him my daughter who suffer a brain injury have a better quality care and sophisticated treatments. Thanks Mr. Smith for being there for us.
William Benjamin Smith's Lawyer Endorsements
"I have known Bill for years and I believe he is one of the finest personal injury attorneys in this City"
"I endorse William. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."
"I endorse this lawyer. William Smith was a former law professor whom I clerked for while attending Hastings. An excellent teacher and outstanding attorney."
"Bill Smith is one of the best trial lawyers I've ever worked with, and I've worked with some of the very best. He is smart, savvy, creative, and tenacious. No matter how difficult the case, if there's a way to win, Bill will find it."
"I endorse this lawyer. Bill is truly one of California and the nation's finest lawyers achieving well-earned recognition from his peers--both those who do plaintiff work and those who defend these cases. He has contributed his expertise through multiple legal education programs; his trial skills have earned him not only membership in, but the presidency of, the American Board of Trial Advocates; and he has achieved stellar results on behalf of severely injured individuals while always displaying the highest standards of professionalism and civility. Bill represents the very best in our profession."
"I endorse this lawyer becasue I know he is an excellent trial attorney and very knowledgeable in medical cases. He is prompt, caring and extremely competent. If I needed a lawyer I would call Bill."
"Bill is a highly respected and exceptionally skilled trial attorney who has achieved tremendous results over the years on behalf of seriously injured plaintiffs, and families of decedents. He is a lawyer to whom you can refer a case with absolute confidence that he will take care of all those involved."
"Bill Smith is one of the most successful lawyers in his practice area because of his intelligence, skill, and work ethic. He is a memeber of ABOTA, IATLA, and many more prestigious professional organizations."
"Bill Smith is one of the finest trial attorneys I know. He has a long proven track record of multi-million dollar verdicts around the State. He is a member of ABOTA and the American College of Trial Lawyers. Not only is Bill tremendously skilled as an advocate, he adheres to the highest ethical standards and has a great sense of humor. Bill is a "10 - Superb""
Personal injury lawyer
Personal injury lawyer
Personal injury lawyer
Medical malpractice lawyer
Experience
Honors
2011
Best personal injury litigator, San Francisco, Best Lawyers in America
2005
Top 100, SuperLawyers
2004
Most Innovative Use of Technology During Trial, Law Technology News
2003
Trial Lawyer of the Year finalist, Consumer Attorneys of California
2002
Trial Lawyer of the Year finalist, Consumer Attorneys of California
Work Experience
1973 - Present
Senior partner, Abramson Smith Waldsmith LLP
Associations
2011 - Present
American Board of Trial AdvocatesPresident, San Francisco Chapter, National Board Member
2011 - Present
American Board of Trial Advocates, CAL-ABOTABoard member and Chairman of Education
2009 - Present
Litigation Counsel of AmericaFellow
2004 - Present
International Society of BarristersFellow and Board Member and National Membership Chair
2001 - Present
International Academy of Trial LawyersFellow
1997 - Present
American College of Trial LawyersFellow and former State Chair for California
1995 - Present
Friends of the University of Nottingham, EnglandPast President
1975 - Present
Lawyer Friends of WineFormer President
1973 - Present
San Francisco Trial Lawyers AssociationFormer President
1973 - Present
UC Hastings Alumni AssociationFormer President
Sample of Legal Cases
Jury verdict of $27,750,000
Education
1973
Juris doctor
1970
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2012
Civility Matters
2012
How to Handle a Sports Case: Releases and Primary Assumption of Risk
2012
Civility Matters
2011
Strategies for Sports and Recreation Cases
2011
Overcoming Releases and Assumption of Risk
2010
Use of Graphics and Demonstrative Evidence at Trial
2010
Civility Matters
2010
Principles of Civility, Integrity and Professionalism
2010
Advanced Settlement Techniques
2010
Understanding and Preparing a Frontal Lobe Case For Trial
2010
Traumatic Brain Injury: The Invisible Injury
2010
Civility Matters
2009
Ethics: Civility Matters!
2009
The Latest Electronic Demonstrative Evidence and How to Present It
2009
The Unlevel Playing Field in Sports Premises Cases: Releases, Waivers and Assumption of Risk
2009
Proving the Invisible Brain Injury
Publications
2010
2010
2009
2009
2005
2004
2003
2001
1995
1984
Languages
French
Spanish