Kelly A. Smith is an accomplished attorney with significant experience in complex employment litigation and advising executives on litigation risk and employment law matters.
Prior to joining Littler, she spent 14 years working at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, most recently as a member of the Senior Executive Service. Kelly served as a Section Chief responsible for managing two Employment Litigation Units, two Civil Litigation Units, and a Freedom of Information Act Litigation Unit. Kelly oversaw all types of employment litigation claims against the FBI, as well as constitutional and other federal statutory claims. She led case teams on complex class and collection action litigation involving adverse impact, pattern and practice, and Fair Labor Standards Act claims. She served as a trusted advisor to executives across the FBI on litigation risk, employee discipline, and policy.
Throughout her time at the FBI, Kelly litigated both complex and single plaintiff cases before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Merit Systems Protection Board. She conducted training sessions and served as a subject matter expert on federal discrimination, whistleblowing, and wage and hour laws. She also worked with the Department of Justice on federal district court and appellate litigation and served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Prior to federal service, Kelly worked at two global law firms where she represented clients in numerous complex litigation matters, including discrimination class actions and wage and hour collective actions.