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Brian T. Smith

Member

Brian T. Smith is a nationally recognized litigator who represents clients facing high-profile, complex product liability and general civil litigation. With over 25 years of experience, Brian is the leader of the firm’s Product Liability and Class Actions practice and a member of Dykema's Litigation practice group.

Brian has extensive experience handling product liability cases involving catastrophic injury and death, consumer product class action claims, and commercial and contract disputes. Described as an “excellent trial attorney” by Legal 500 US, he regularly defends automotive and other product manufacturers in litigation across the country, including in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana, California, Alabama, Florida, Texas, Nevada, Missouri, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Arizona, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Brian also serves as counsel for automobile negligence cases, including company car and fleet-related claims.

In addition to his automotive work, Brian represents clients in premises liability and workplace safety cases in Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana, and serves as Michigan and Illinois counsel for numerous manufacturers of valves, pumps, and automotive-related parts. He is also involved in national counsel programs where he manages cases across the country and assists with all facets of litigation, including discovery. In this role, Brian has assisted with breach of warranty cases and asbestos claims.

    • University of Detroit Mercy, J.D., cum laude, Inns of Court, Order of Barristers, Justice Frank Murphy Honor Society
    • University of Detroit Mercy, B.A., summa cum laude

  • Bar Admissions

    • Michigan, 1999
    • Illinois, 2000

  • Court Admissions

    • U.S. Court of Appeals - 6th Circuit, 2019
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1999
    • U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 1999
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois, 2001
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2002

    • Named “Lawyer of the Year" by The Best Lawyers in America® for Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, 2025

    • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, 2019-2025

    • Recognized by The Legal 500 United States as a Key Lawyer for Automotive Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action, 2022-2024; Automotive Litigation, 2022-2023; Transport: Rail and Road – Litigation, 2020-2021

    • Named a Top Lawyer in Product Liability by dbusiness Magazine, 2018

    • Macomb County Bar Association

    • Wayne County Bar Association

    • American Bar Association

    • Chicago Bar Association

Contact

Bloomfield Hills248-203-0843

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