Elizabeth T. Smith
Ms. Smith is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and a member of the litigation group. Her practice includes business, commercial, contract, employment, occupational disease, intentional torts and probate litigation. She has had first chair trial experience in jury and bench trials in state and federal court. She has argued in various state appellate courts, the Ohio Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Since returning to the firm after serving as Chief Counsel to the Ohio Attorney General from January 2003 to May 2005, she has also engaged in election law issues, charter school and education issues, consumer sales practices investigations and government relations.
As part of her charter school practice, she has represented schools and sponsors and worked with management companies in regard to a broad range of issues including, special education, student funding, 501(c)(3) tax status, closure and receivership, state audits, public records and sunshine laws, ethics, board governance, employment issues and public contracting.
Career highlights include:
- Serving as Chief Counsel to Ohio Attorney General James Petro in 2003 and being involved in the daily strategy, policy decision making and leadership of 100+ lawyers and 13,000 cases on a variety of matters involving the State of Ohio, its agencies and universities, including, issues relating to unions, taxation, transportation, workers' compensation, the state budget, state and national elections, open records and corporate governance
- Serving as counsel for the State of Ohio pension funds, that were lead plaintiffs in various securities class actions against Global Crossing, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and also opt-out plaintiffs in securities litigation against Worldcom, Enron and Pilgrim Baxter
- Leading significant litigation involving constitutional challenges to the State, including arguing in the Supreme Court of Ohio and negotiating significant settlements for the State
- National trial attorney and litigator for Fortune 500 Company in regard to toxic tort litigation and occupational disease claims
- Trial Attorney for Bank Trustee in several pieces of extended litigation brought by family trust beneficiaries
- Trial Attorney for Fortune 500 Company in significant employment discrimination litigation
- Successful settlement negotiation of a significant action on behalf of a national chain brought by the Consumer Protection Section of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office
- Leadership in various aspects of litigation and regulatory actions involving Ohio’s charter schools, including the representation of a sponsor to take over the operations of a school and to close it down, working closely with all interested regulators
- Speaker at Annual Conferences for Public Charter Schools on Board/Corporate Governance
Ms. Smith is a member of the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Columbus Bar Association, the Ohio Women’s Bar Association, the Women Lawyers of Franklin County, the Defense Research Institute (DRI), and the Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys (OACTA).
Ms. Smith spoke at the Ohio Attorney General’s Trial Advocacy Program in 2005 and 2006 on various aspects of trial presentation.
Ms. Smith received her J.D. from The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law and her B.A. magna cum laude from Heidelberg College. She attended McGill University’s Intensive French Program in 1979.
Professional and Community Activities
- Franklin County Republican Central Committee, Judicial Screening Committee, Chair, 2001-present
- Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools, Advisory Board, 2010-present
- C.U.R.E., Development Board, 2005-2008
- Heidelberg College Board of Trustees, Trusteeship Committee, Chair, 2004-2006; Secretary, 2006-present
- Ohio Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers, Board of Directors, 2004-2008
- Federal Bar Association, Vice-President, 2002-2003; President 2003-2004
- Alternative Education Council, Ohio Attorney General designee, 2003-2005
- Judicial Screening Committee for Ohio Supreme Court for the Ohio Republican Party, 2004
- Ohio State Bar Association; Federal Court and Practice Committee, Chair, 1997-1999
- Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, Board of Commissioners, 1997-2002
- ARC Industries, President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer during term of service from 1995-2002
- Franklin County Republican Judicial Salute Committees, Vice-Chair, 1993-1994; Chair, 1995
Honors & Awards
- Recognition for pro bono work as Magistrate for the City of Gahanna, 1993-1995
- Columbus’s Outstanding "40 Under 40," 1997
- Fellow of the Columbus Bar Foundation since 1994
News
Events
- Charter School Law Workshop
- Aspire to Greatness: OAPCS 3rd Annual Conference
- Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools State Conference
Publications
- Tiffany S. Cobb & Elizabeth T. Smith, “Understand the Law when Contracting with the State,” Business First, April 14, 2006