Lauren Smith

Profile

Lauren is an Equity Partner in the Complex Claims and Litigation Department.  She has been with Mendes since 2006.  Lauren’s practice primarily focuses on matters involving toxic exposure to hazardous substances, including asbestos, benzene, silica and other toxic chemicals.   Her experience has encompassed all aspects of claims handling – from early legal evaluation and issue identification through litigation, discovery, mediation, trial and negotiated settlements.  She has served as both coverage counsel and defense counsel in a wide variety of matters throughout the nation.

As coverage counsel, Lauren has been retained by numerous domestic and international insurers, including various syndicates at Lloyd’s, London and other London Market entities.  As defense counsel, Lauren has represented several Fortune 500 companies in products liability matters and is currently the primary defense counsel for several major aircraft parts manufacturers and non-aviation clients in the ongoing New York City Asbestos Litigation (NYCAL) as well as in New Jersey.  Lauren also serves as National Coordinating counsel for similar clients, whereby she supervises and coordinates defense strategies in other legal actions throughout the country.  Lauren has been instrumental in working with her clients to form the most effective discovery and litigation strategies for her clients.  Lauren also monitors and manages a large docket of aviation-related and non-aviation exposure claims nationwide. 

Lauren is a member of the American Bar Association.  She is a Vice Chair of the Aviation and Space Law and Women Trial Lawyers Committees of the ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Group.  She is also a member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance and the Association of Professional Insurance Women.

Lauren is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.