Kendra L. Smith, Esq

Kendra L. Smith joined Smith Butz, LLC as a Partner in 2007, heading up the firm’s Occupational Disease, Railroad and Insurance Defense Department. Prior to joining Smith Butz, Attorney Smith worked at a large Pittsburgh law firm for 11 years, four of which in the position of Partner.

For more than two decades, Attorney Smith has practiced in the areas of transportation, railroad, insurance defense and occupational disease litigation. She continues to concentrate her practice in representing National Railroads clients in FELA matters, such as occupational exposures to various solvents, diesel exhaust, asbestos and other toxic exposures resulting in pulmonary injuries and various cancers, as well as crossing accidents and contract disputes. Attorney Smith also represents numerous manufacturers and products liability defense matters and consults with corporate executives about testimony strategy regarding proprietary information.

Attorney Smith has tried cases in both State and Federal Courts on FELA matters throughout the United States. She has also argued appeals before Appellate Courts in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. She was invited to speak at the Occupational Claims Conference in Boulder, Colorado, on her role in decertifying a FELA Class Action in Federal Court in Ohio.

In addition to her litigation skills, Attorney Smith works extensively in the firm’s estate planning and administrative division.  As a number of her clients have estate planning needs, Attorney Smith has spent more than a decade providing that service to accommodate and effectuate her client’s estate plans and strategies. She regularly drafts and consults with clients on wills, trusts, and estate administration.   

Attorney Smith received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Monmouth University, where she captained the Nationally ranked Division I Soccer Team. She pursued a Master’s degree at Villanova University, prior to receiving her Juris Doctor Degree, with Distinction, from Western Michigan University’s Thomas M. Cooley Law School located in Lansing, Michigan. While in law school, she received numerous honors, receiving Merit Book Awards for Sports law, Scholarly Writing and Pretrial/Posttrial Practice and Procedure. She was also a member of the Thomas M. Cooley Law Review and a Research and Trial Workshop Assistant.

Attorney Smith is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey and West Virginia State Courts, The United States District Courts for the Western District of Pennsylvania, The Middle District of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Attorney Smith has tried Jury Trials in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Tennessee, and has litigated in New York, Michigan, Alabama, Florida, New Jersey and West Virginia. Attorney Smith is a member of the Allegheny County, Washington County, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio and West Virginia Bar Associations. She resides in Southwestern Pennsylvania with her husband and 3 children. If you or someone you know is in need of assistance in the areas of Occupational Disease, Railroad Defense, Products Liability, Insurance Defense matters as well as Estate Planning and Administration, Attorney Kendra L. Smith can be reached via telephone at (724) 745-5121 or via email at klsmith@smithbutzlaw.com.