Elizabeth T. Smith
Practice Areas
Industries
Education
- The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law, J.D., 1984
- Heidelberg College, B.A., 1981, magna cum laude
Bar & Court Admissions
Elizabeth is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office with over thirty years of experience in the courtroom, in complex discovery, and before various administrative bodies. Her practice includes business, commercial, contract, employment, occupational disease, intentional torts and public law litigation. She has had first chair trial experience in jury and bench trials in state and federal court. Elizabeth has argued in various state appellate courts, the Ohio Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. She has a broad range of experience representing individuals, businesses of all sizes and public universities before the courts and regulatory bodies. Her varied experience has allowed her to develop specific insight for the handling of regulatory litigation.
Career highlights include:
- Appointment as the Chief Counsel to Ohio Attorney General James Petro from 2003 to 2005 and involvement in 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, and pension funds including, issues relating to securities litigation, constitutional issues, unions, taxation, transportation, workers' compensation, the state budget, state and national elections, public records, open meetings and corporate governance, general tort litigation
- Over 30 years of trial and litigation experience in various types of jury trials and injunction hearings including involving business, contract and commercial disputes, extended litigation in several forums brought by family trust beneficiaries, employment discrimination, asbestos exposure and occupational disease litigation, including national representation of Fortune 200 manufacturing company in connection with its occupational disease claims, working with national expert witnesses from the medical, epidemiological and industrial hygiene fields throughout the country and in various forums
- Representation of various businesses in regulatory litigation with the state including successful resolution of “Bet the Company” litigation against the Ohio Department of Medicaid in regard to a Home Healthcare Government Audit and successful representation of individuals and government entities before the Ohio Ethics Commission the Ohio Elections Commission, the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Commerce.
- Successful negotiation of settlements for several significant investigatory actions on behalf of national chains brought by the Consumer Protection Section of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and participation in successful litigation and settlement of international class action involving allegations about offshore working conditions
- Leadership in various aspects of litigation and regulatory actions involving Ohio’s charter schools, including leading the first effort of a nongovernment charter school sponsor to take over the operations of a failing school and to bring it to a successful closure, working with the Ohio Attorney General, the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Auditor of State
- Representation as special counsel to the Ohio Attorney General’s for Ohio’s public universities in regard to various state and federal regulatory issues, including successful negotiations with the United States Department of Justice
- Representation of the Ohioans Against Marijuana Monopolies PAC (Issue 3) in the 2015 election, including representation before the Ohio Ballot Board, participation in debates before professional organizations and The Columbus Metropolitan Club, spearheading an amicus brief in the Ohio Supreme Court for the PAC to defeat Issue 3, and subsequent representation of provisional licensees in the marijuana industry before the courts
- Appointed to four Bi-Partisan Judicial Advisory Commissions for the Selection of Federal District Judges in Ohio and service in 2017 as chair of the commission
Elizabeth is a member 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). Elizabeth has been named an Ohio Super Lawyer, as one of The Best Lawyers in America and as a Top Lawyer in Columbus. In addition, she was recently appointed to the Columbus Bar Association’s Professional Ethics Committee.
Elizabeth has been a speaker at the Ohio Attorney General’s Trial Advocacy Program on various aspects of trial presentation, at professional organizations in regard to career development for women, and most recently to healthcare organizations and employers regarding legal issues in regard to the legalization of marijuana.
Elizabeth 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 completed McGill University’s Intensive Summer French Program in 1979.
Professional and Community Activities
- Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio, Executive Committee, Trustee Member, 2014-present
- Franklin County Republican Central Committee, Judicial Screening Committee, Chair, 2001-present
- Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools, Advisory Board, 2010-2015; Board of Directors, 2015-present
- Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys, Board of Trustees, 2014 - present; Chair, Annual Meeting, 2014
- 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
- Ohio Super Lawyers, General Litigation, 2013-2018
- The Best Lawyers in America, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants 2013-2019
- Columbus CEO, Top Lawyers in Columbus, 2010-2015, 2017-2018
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rated
- 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
- 8/15/2018One hundred and thirteen lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2019.
- 12/5/2017Vorys is pleased to announce that 56 attorneys from the firm have been named 2018 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.
- 8/17/2017One hundred and eight lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2018.
- 6/6/2017U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced the members of the bipartisan judiciary advisory commission. Vorys Partner Elizabeth T. Smith was selected as the chair the 28 member commission and Vorys Partners Fred Ransier was selected as a member of the committee.
- 3/28/2017This year, 54 Vorys attorneys were listed in the 2017 Columbus CEO “Top Lawyers” List.
- 12/2/2016Vorys is pleased to announce that 58 attorneys from the firm have been named 2017 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.
- 8/15/2016One-hundred and eleven lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017.
- 12/2/2015Vorys is pleased to announce that 63 attorneys from the firm have been named 2016 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.
- 12/3/2014Vorys is pleased to announce that 74 attorneys from the firm have been named 2015 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.
- 8/18/2014One-hundred and ten lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2015.
- 12/4/2013Eighty-one attorneys from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP have been named 2014 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. 57 Vorys attorneys were named 2014 Ohio Super Lawyer and 24 Vorys attorneys were named 2014 Ohio Rising Stars.
- 8/14/2013One hundred and eleven lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2014.
- 7/26/2013Elizabeth T. Smith, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office, was quoted in a Coshocton Tribune story about an alert issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health about the sand used during hydraulic fracturing and the health risk it could pose for workers.
- 12/17/2012Seventy-Seven attorneys from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease have been named 2013 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.
- 8/23/2012One hundred and twenty-six lawyers from Vorys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2013.
- 4/29/2009
Events
- 6/5/2018Vorys Partners Jolie Havens, Elizabeth Smith and Lisa Pierce Reisz presented at the Ohio Hospital Association Annual Conference on June 5, 2018. Havens and Smith presented Into the Weeds: Legal and Business Considerations for Hospitals in the Age of Medical Marijuana and Reisz presented Navigating HIPAA’s Right to Access: Compliance Challenges and Pitfalls for 2018.
- 2/15/2017Vorys Partners Elizabeth Smith and Kelly Jennings Yeoman were speakers at the Ohio Concealed Carry Law Workshop hosted by the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio on February 15, 2017.
- 12/7/2016Vorys Partners Rodney Holaday and Elizabeth Smith were speakers at the OAPCS 10th Annual Ohio Charter Schools Conference on December 7, 2016.
- 10/26/2016Vorys Partner Elizabeth Smith was a speaker at the Women in Leadership of West Central Ohio Luncheon on October 26, 2016.
- 9/9/2016Vorys attorneys Dan Balmert, Corrine Carman, Margaret Everett, Scott Jamieson, Andrew Kaplan, Ted Mattis, Buz Minor, Brad Sinnott, Carl Smallwood, Elizabeth Smith, Ken Stump, Jerry Webbs and Rosemary Welsh were speakers at the annual Vorys Workers' Compensation Annual Client Briefing on September 9, 2016.
- 12/8/2015Vorys Partner Elizabeth Smith presented a webinar titled “Marijuana: Is it Coming? Are you Ready?” hosted by the Ohio State Bar Association on December 8, 2015.
- Fall 2015Vorys Partner Elizabeth Smith participated in a debate at the Columbus Metropolitan Club on Issue 3 and the Legalization of Marijuana in Fall 2015.
- 5/16/2013Vorys partner Elizabeth Smith took part in a panel discussing, The Campaign, at the CLE, Ensuring Judicial Excellence: The Path to the Bench on Thursday May 16, 2013.
- 2/22/2013Vorys partner Elizabeth Smith was part of a panel discussion at the Women in the Law Seminar presented by the Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys on Friday, February 22, 2013.
- 10/9/2012Vorys attorneys Elizabeth Smith, Jackie Ford, Martha Brewer and Christopher Ingram spoke at the Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools 6th Annual Conference on October 9-10.
- 12/7/2011
- 9/16/2011
- 11/11/2010
- 11/16/2009
- 10/14/2008
Insights
- 6/26/2018On June 25, 2018, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first drug derived from the cannabis sativa plant, commonly known as marijuana.
- 5/26/2016Faced with a petition drive to put a minimum wage proposal on the November ballot, Cleveland City Council must now consider an ordinance that would mandate a $15 per hour minimum wage for those employees working within Cleveland’s geographic boundaries.
- 5/16/2016The Supreme Court of Ohio recently released its opinion in White v. King,expressly expanding the definition of a “meeting” under Ohio’s Open Meetings Act to include discussions that occur “telephonically, by video conference, or electronically by email, text, or other form of communication.”
- June 2015Jackie Ford and Elizabeth T. Smith, attorneys in the Vorys Columbus and Houston offices and members of the litigation and labor and employment groups, co-authored an article titled “Crisis Management Takes a Team.” It was featured in the June 2015 edition of the AICUO Affiliate Member Newsletter.
- 4/1/2015On March 18, 2015, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that those engaged in crude petroleum and natural gas extraction, drilling, and related support activities are engaged in “high hazard” activities and will be subject to OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program. The program has been in effect since 2010, when it replaced the prior Enhanced Enforcement Program. When the program started, OSHA placed its national emphasis on the “high-hazard” industries that involved fall hazards and hazards from amputations; combustible dust, crystalline silica; excavation and/or trenching; lead; and shipbreaking. This announcement is an expansion of the program’s “high hazard” activities. This is important for the oil and gas industry because OSHA concentrates the majority of its resources to inspecting employers from “high-hazard” industries.
- 9/12/2013OSHA’s proposed silica rule, supported by 800 pages of background information and scientific literature, was published in the Federal Register on September 12, 2013. The comment period, which commences with this date of publication will last 90 days (i.e., until December 11, 2013). Hearings will begin on March 4, 2014.
- 7/24/2013The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in collaboration with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), has issued a "Hazard Alert" for the oil and gas industry regarding worker exposure to crystalline silica. The alert merits the attention of all who are involved with hydraulic fracturing operations.
- 5/10/2011
- 4/14/2006