Katherine E. Smith

Katherine "Katie" Smith has successfully litigated hundreds of state and federal cases in both the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York and in New York State courts. Ms. Smith’s expertise focuses on civil rights litigation, specializing in federal litigation and trial practice.

Prior to starting her own practice, Ms. Smith worked for the City of New York's Office Corporation Counsel in the Special Federal Litigation Division defending civil rights actions against the City and its employees. In the private sector, Ms. Smith has litigated complex class actions, consumer fraud and corporate breach of contract cases, among other practice areas.

Presently, Ms. Smith’s practice focuses on prosecuting civil rights actions against municipalities, police, and correction officers. Specifically, Ms. Smith represents clients who have been falsely arrested, maliciously prosecuted, and/or subjected to unreasonable use of force by police officers, as well as other types of law enforcement misconduct. In the corrections context, Ms. Smith prosecutes correction officers for abusing inmates and otherwise failing to protect inmates from abuse. Ms. Smith also represents individuals who are victims of sexual assault.

Ms. Smith has secured clients millions of dollars in damages including victories in both the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York as a part of several trial teams.

In addition to her legal practice, Ms. Smith is an adjunct professor at New York Law School, her alma-mater, where she co-developed and co-teaches "Policing the Police" a course concerning law enforcement accountability. Ms. Smith is also a visiting assistant professor at Pratt Institute, Graduate Architecture and Urban Design where she co-teaches a course focusing on critical discourses on space and the built environment with respect to race, gender, and sexuality.

Ms. Smith is a regular contributor to Law & Crime where she offers her expert legal analysis on trials throughout the country.

Since 2015, Ms. Smith has been selected as a New York Metro Super Lawyers Rising Star.