Daniel J. Smith

Dan Smith focuses on construction litigation, representing developers, subcontractors and construction product manufacturers in defect and delay claims, indemnity disputes and class actions. Over more than 25 years in practice, he has represented clients in more than 200 construction disputes and tried more than 25 cases to jury verdict. His trial experience also extends to business, commercial and financial litigation.

Dan represents construction defendants in class action litigation. In one such case, which he resolved, demands at the outset exceeded $80 million. He has also written on the subject: his article “Construction Defect Class Actions, Where Do the Potential Risks Lie?” appeared in the January–February 2007 issue of Construction Accounting and Taxation.

Earlier in his career, Dan served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps from 1987 to 1991. He gained trial experience as both a prosecutor and a public defender, and advised the VII Corps Commander during Operation Desert Storm on the laws of war and the treatment of refugees and prisoners of war.

• New York University School of Law, LL.M. (International Law), 1987
• University of San Francisco School of Law, J.D., 1986
  with honors
• University of San Francisco, B.A., 1983
  cum laude

• Arizona, 1986
• California, 1987

Associated Builders and Contractors

• "Change Orders: Recognizing Cardinal Changes & Knowing Your Rights," Co-author, Martindale.com, April, 2008
• "Construction Defect Class Actions, Where Do the Potential Risks Lie?", Construction Accounting and Taxation, January- February 2007