Terry J. Smith

Terry J. Smith

Smith O'Callaghan & White
  • Employment Law
  • Illinois, Wisconsin
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Biography

Terry J. Smith is a partner with Smith O'Callaghan & White. He has represented employers in all aspects of labor and employment law for more than 25 years, representing and regularly advising corporate defendants in litigation involving labor and employment matters in federal and state courts, and administrative agencies, throughout the United States. Prior to founding a boutique firm, Mr. Smith was a partner in one of the largest law firms in Chicago.

He has been named an Illinois Super Lawyer for 15 consecutive years (2007-2021), representing the top 5% of all attorneys in the State of Illinois. Mr. Smith is AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell. He has led Smith O'Callaghan & White to a place among "Go-To Law Firms" for corporate counsel and national recognition as a "best-in-class" boutique law firm providing exemplary client focus and service.

Mr. Smith deals extensively with all phases of employment-related litigation in the federal and state courts — from pre-litigation counsel, to discovery, to dispositive motions, to trial. He has represented employers in single-party and multi-party litigation. His experience encompasses cases involving employment discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful discharge, breach of employment contract, trade secret misappropriation, covenants not-to-compete, unfair competition, employee pirating, breach of fiduciary duty and workplace defamation. He has successfully litigated these cases throughout the country.

Mr. Smith also has represented employers in a number of precedent-setting cases, including: inevitable disclosure of trade secrets, legal obligations of employers in reductions-in-force, workplace defamation lawprivilege and self-publication, no individual supervisor liability under Title VII, notice requirements in alleged harrassment cases, arbitration disputes and the first case to reach the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit interpreting the FMLA.

Practice Area
Employment Law
Employee Benefits, Employment Contracts, Employment Discrimination, ERISA, Overtime & Unpaid Wages, Sexual Harassment, Whistleblower, Wrongful Termination
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Illinois
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Wisconsin
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4th Circuit
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6th Circuit
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7th Circuit
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D.C. Circuit
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Professional Experience
Partner
Smith O'Callaghan & White
- Current
Partner
Schiff Hardin & Waite
-
Associate
Schiff Hardin & Waite
-
Associate
Foley & Lardner LLP
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Education
Cornell University
J.D. (1984)
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Lawrence University
B.A. (1981)
Honors: magna cum laude Phi Beta Kappa
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Awards
AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
Highest rating for legal ability and ethics
Illinois Super Lawyer
Chicago Magazine
For Years 2007 - 2019
Fellow, Trial Lawyers Honorary Society
Litigation Counsel of America
Professional Associations
Chicago Bar Association-Labor and Employment Law Committee
Member
Current
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Chicago Bar Association-Federal Civil Practice Committee
Member
Current
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Seventh Circuit Bar Association
Member
Current
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American Bar Association
Member, Labor and Employment Section
Current
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Websites & Blogs
Website
Website
Contact & Map
33 North LaSalle Street
Suite 3600
Chicago, IL 60602
Telephone: (312) 419-1000