Associate

Sacramento

Direct: 916.945.5473

Office: 916.945.5170

apsmith@buchalter.com

Bar Admissions

California

Overview

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Adam P. Smith is an Attorney in the Firm’s Sacramento office and a member of the Litigation and Labor and Employment practice groups. Mr. Smith handles a variety of litigation matters related to public and private entities. He helps clients reach effective solutions to their legal issues, whether that be through advice and counsel or litigation.

Mr. Smith also has experience practicing complex litigation with a focus on class and Private Attorneys General Act, or PAGA, representative actions; wage and hour disputes; antitrust and general commercial litigation; disability discrimination and general employment law; and public utility/wildfire litigation. Additionally, Adam has a strong public policy background, having worked as a consultant to various advocacy organizations and legislative committees on a wide range of issues including prison reform, consumer rights and wine law.

Mr. Smith was recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine as a Northern California “Rising Star” in 2023 – 2025.

  • Currently representing a public entity in a complex, multi-plaintiff, coordinated action against PG&E for substantial damages caused by PG&E for starting the Mosquito Fire, which was the largest wildfire in California in 2022.
  • Represents an Indian Tribe against Pacific Power/PacifiCorp for substantial damages, including from interference with tribal water and fishing rights, caused by Pacific Power for starting the McKinney Fire. The McKinney Fire was the deadliest wildfire in California in 2022, and second most destructive behind the Mosquito Fire.
  • Currently defending a company in the short-term vacation rental space in an antitrust, restraint of trade case brought by a competitor in an apparent attempt to eliminate its competition.
  • Represents an original equipment manufacturer in its trade secret lawsuit against its former employees where the former employees are attempting to illegally use the client’s proprietary, trade secret information to set up an identical competing business.
  • Represented multiple family member defendants in an antitrust case brought by Flannery Associates against numerous defendants for allegedly trying to fix the prices of land that Flannery was attempting to purchase. The case settled on favorable terms to Mr. Smith’s clients.
  • Jesse Griego v. City of Barstow: Successfully appealed a trial court’s decision granting an employee’s petition for writ of administrative Therein, the Court of Appeal issued a precedent-setting decision finding that even where a part of an employer’s rationale for its decision to terminate an employee is not sustained, if the remainder of the employer’s rationale is sustained and would leave no real doubt that the employer would terminate the employee, the termination should stand and not be remanded to the employer.
  • E-Commerce Lighting, Inc. v. E-Commerce Trade LLC, et al.: Successfully appealed a trial court’s decision to eliminate a setoff in an arbitrator’s award. As a result, Mr. Smith’s clients were protected from potential intervening creditor claims related to the action.
  • Obtained a full defense verdict on behalf of client facing whistleblower and retaliation claims, after a 7-day jury trial in Los Angeles Superior Court.
  • Successfully defended claims against a public entity client by way of summary judgment, where a former officer brought claims for procedural due process violations, whistleblower retaliation, and discrimination arising from the client’s COVID-19 vaccine policies.
  • Successfully defended claims against a private corporation by way of summary judgment, where a former employee brought more than seven causes of action, including claims for discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, and breach of implied contract.
  • Successfully dismissed, or resolved at nuisance value, numerous disability discrimination cases brought by serial litigants alleging they encountered online or in-person access barriers in connection with services from restaurants, hotels, and other businesses.

Admissions

  • California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Education

  • UC Davis School of Law, J.D.
  • The University of Texas at Austin, B.A., Pre-Law Philosophy

  • Public Entities/Municipalities

 

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