Steve Smith
Contact Info
Profile Description
As an independent arbitrator, mediator and consultant, Steve Smith handles complex international and domestic commercial disputes. He has served as arbitrator, mediator, and expert witness in major proceedings before the world’s leading arbitration and mediation institutions and in US Federal Courts. Claims in his ADR cases have ranged from $1 million to over $200 million, and over $1 billion in cases where he has acted as counsel.
Smith brings to his practice nearly three decades of in house counsel corporate legal and senior management experience in the world’s largest aerospace and defense company,* where he handled a multitude of disputes involving high technology products and services.
Steve is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) and a member of the governing body of the American Arbitration Association/International Centre for Dispute Resolution. He is a U.S. delegate to the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR.
Steve is also on the rosters/panels of major dispute resolution organizations in the United States and abroad. He is internationally recognized for his efforts to improve arbitration processes. While achieving outstanding results, his effective case management strategies—both as arbitrator and mediator—have also made large dispute resolutions much more timely and cost efficient. As a leading proponent for cost and schedule efficiency he has lectured extensively on those subjects worldwide to corporate management and legal groups.
Professional Experience
Acted as arbitrator/mediator or counsel in numerous large, complex, multi-party commercial and governmental matters ranging from millions to billions of dollars, including aerospace, aviation, national security, breach of contract, software licensing and development, construction, franchising, toxic torts, discrimination class action, fraud, intellectual property, patent infringement, corporate governance, insurance recovery, trade secrets, technology transfer, antitrust, business torts, negligence, gross negligence, intentional misconduct, misappropriation of trade secrets, white collar and employment disputes involving U.S. and non-U.S. parties and laws
Broad and deep experience in high-tech, aerospace and defense contract and subcontract formation, litigation, mediation, arbitration, administrative proceedings and bid protests, some involving contracts/programs exceeding $1 billion
Extensive work on domestic and international joint ventures and in U.S. national security matters involving export/import and programs classified at DOD secret, top-secret and special access required levels
Served over 25 years as General Counsel/Vice President and General Counsel for large divisions of Lockheed Martin Corporation, the world’s largest aerospace and defense company, and senior advisor to highest level business executives on very wide variety of matters including, but not limited to, new business, commercial and government contracts, all types of commercial and government disputes including domestic and international arbitration, litigation and mediation, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, antitrust, employment matters, national security, compliance, internal investigations and trade secrets
Employment History
| May 2017-present | Founder and Principal, Steve Smith ADR LLC |
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| 2011-May 2017 | Member, Sherman and Howard, LLC, where served as Co-chair/Vice Chair of Space Law and International Arbitration practice groups |
| 1995-2011 | Vice President and General Counsel, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company |
| 1995-2000 | Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Lockheed Martin Corporation |
| 1989-2005 | General Counsel, Martin Marietta Astronautics Group |
| 1987-1989 | General Counsel, Martin Marietta Data Systems |
| 1985-1987 | Assistant General Counsel (Corporate HQ), Martin Marietta Corporation |
| 1981-1985 | Assistant General Counsel, Martin Marietta Astronautics (HQ) |
| 1977-1981 | Law Firm, Zuckert, Scoutt & Rasenberger focusing on aviation and government contracts (Washington, DC) |
Practice Areas
Nearly 30 years experience in senior legal and management positions in the world’s largest global aerospace and defense company, with responsibility for all disputes involving a wide variety of issues between commercial parties, and between U.S. government prime and subcontractors, both involving U.S. and non-U.S. laws
Disputed matters included high tech products and services, and commercial/government satellite and launch vehicle disputes involving sophisticated technical issues, compliance with specifications and entitlement to payments
Served as arbitrator or counsel in large variety of arbitrations involving, e.g. commercial satellites, commercial launch services, jet engines, services contracts in war zones, hardware and software licensing and development, IP issues, technology transfer and insurance recovery. Also participated as arbitrator and counsel in multiple mock arbitrations involving aerospace and aviation disputes
Significant experience in broad variety of classified and non-classified national security matters
Formation and disputes involving large joint venture transactions, including establishment of one of the largest joint ventures involving U.S. aerospace companies, resulting in billions of dollars of earnings to the JV parties
Lead role in establishing and continuing operations of largest U.S.-Russian aerospace JV
Obtained antitrust clearance for numerous mergers, acquisitions and JVs, and negotiated terms of consent agreements with U.S. and European Commission competition authorities
Panel member in SIAC arbitration involving U.S. and Chinese parties where Chinese law governed and over $200 million at issue
Sole arbitrator in ICDR and ICC arbitrations involving franchising and distributorship agreements involving U.S., Canadian and European companies
Disputes involving sophisticated software and hardware solutions including contracts under U.S. and non-U.S. laws
Negotiation of numerous high tech development contracts including complex specifications and data rights issues
Intellectual Property matters including disputes between hi-tech corporations where patent infringements were alleged
Responsible for rebuilding Corporate Export/Import Department following U.S. Department of State enforcement action
Continued responsibility for all export/import related programs, including International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and voluntary disclosures made thereunder
Consultant agreements including Foreign Corrupt Practice Act compliance
Served as arbitrator in ICC dispute involving alleged illegal payments by Chinese national
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Education
| 1973 | B.A., Georgetown University |
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| 1977 | J.D., Georgetown University |
| Editor, Law Review |
Professional Licenses
| 1977 | Admitted to the Bar, Virginia |
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| 1978 | Admitted to the Bar, District of Columbia |
| 1979 | Supreme Court of the United States |
| U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C., 10th, 4th and 8th Circuits | |
| 1990 | Admitted to the Bar, Colorado |
| U.S. District Courts for Colorado, Virginia, DC | |
| (Active) | Currently licensed in Colorado |
English