Biography
Helping Clients in Virginia & Washington, D.C.
Tom Smith has focused his practice on medical malpractice cases involving serious injury or death for over thirty years. For seventeen years he defended doctors and hospitals on behalf of insurance companies, but since 1996 Tom's practice has been dedicated exclusively to representing patients and their families who have been injured or killed due to doctor or hospital errors. Tom has received many honors recognizing his skill and ability in trial litigation. He is an AV-rated lawyer by Martindale Hubbell, the highest rating by peers possible for professional and ethical standards.
Award-Winning Legal Counsel
Each year since 2006, Tom has been named as one of the Best Lawyers in America in the field of plaintiff's medical malpractice law. On three occasions in 2012, 2015, and most recently in 2019, Tom was named the Washington D.C. Metro Area Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers. He has also been named a Virginia and Metro D.C. Super Lawyer in the field of medical malpractice law every year since 2007. Only 5% of the lawyers in Virginia achieve the Super Lawyer status. Tom has also been named by both Washingtonian and Northern Virginia Magazine as a top lawyer in plaintiff's medical malpractice law. Finally, Tom has been named as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the American Trial Lawyers Association.
More important to Tom than these honors is the satisfaction he feels when he achieves a successful result for his client. Obviously, not every case is won, but all are fought with a dedication to the client.
Education
- University of North Carolina School of Law, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- J.D - 1979
- North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Chapel Hill, NC
- B.A - 1976
Bar Admissions
- Virginia, 1990
- District of Columbia, 1990
- U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1980
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1986
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Virginia, 1990
- U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit, 1990
- Virginia Supreme Court, 1990
- North Carolina, 1979
- District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 1990
Published Works
- Co-Author "Expert Review," in Medical Malpractice Law in Virginia in 2017 (4th Edition)
- Co-Author "Expert Review," in Medical Malpractice Law in Virginia in 2021 (5th Edition)
Honors
- Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year" for Medical Malpractice Law, Washington, D.C.
- Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year" for Medical Malpractice Law, Washington, D.C.
- Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year" for Medical Malpractice Law, Washington, D.C.
- Best Lawyers in America, Personal Injury: Medical Malpractice
- Virginia Super Lawyers, Personal Injury, Plaintiff: Medical Malpractice
- Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers: Medical Malpractice
- Recognized by Northern Virginia Magazine as one of the top personal injury lawyers
- Recognized by Washingtonian Magazine as a top plaintiff's medical malpractice attorney
- Received Martindale Hubbell's Highest Rating of AV
- VADA Civility Award, awarded by the Virginia Association if Defense Attorneys to the Plaintiff's lawyer who best exemplifies professionalism and competence
Pro Bono Activities
Professional Associations
- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Board of Governors, 2005 to 2021
- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Chair of the Federal Key Contacts Committee, 2005 to 2007
- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Legislative Committee, 2005 to 2021
- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Chair, 2009 to 2011
- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Chair of Judicial Relations Committee, 2015 to 2021
- Trial Lawyers of the District of Columbia, Member
- Fairfax County Bar Association
Current Employment Position
- Principal Attorney