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.

  • Jesse Griego v. City of Barstow: Successfully appealed a trial court’s decision granting an employee’s petition for writ of administrative mandate. 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. A copy of the Court of Appeals’ published decision can be found here.
  • 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. A copy of the Court of Appeal’s published decision can be found here.
  • 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 negotiated a highly favorable settlement, including recoupment of legal fees and costs, on behalf of a group of clients named as defendants in an antitrust matter for allegedly conspiring to raise property prices.
  • 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. 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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