Larry D. Smith

Of Counsel

Orlando Office

407.839.2134

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Practices

Product Liability

Casualty Litigation

Mediation & Arbitration

A seasoned trial lawyer of more than thirty years, Larry Smith focuses his practice in the areas of complex, high exposure cases for clients including domestic and international product manufacturers, as well as other claims involving personal injury, wrongful death and property damage cases. Larry has also been certified as a Supreme Court of Florida Circuit Civil Mediator since 2018 and Florida Supreme Court Arbitrator since 2019.

Retail and Hospitality
Transportation

The Florida Bar
- Diversity & Inclusion Committee
- Special Committee on Opportunity in the Practice of Law in Florida (2021-2022)
Defense Research Institute
- Member, Drug & Medical Device Committee
- Vice-Chair, Diversity Expo, 2015
American Bar Association
- Chair, Litigation Ethics and Professionalism Diversity Committee, 2011-2012
Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC)
- Co-Chair, FDCC Southeastern Region
- Vice Chair, Diversity & Inclusion Committee
- Product Liability Committee
International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)
- Diversity Committee
- Co-Vice Chair, Diverse Member Involvement
- Faculty, 45th Trial Academy, Stanford Law School, 2017
- Chair, Southeast Regional Committee (2017-2019)
Transportation Lawyers Association
Litigation Counsel of America
Florida Defense Lawyers Association
- Board of Directors, (2016-2017)
- Vice-Chair Product Liability Committee (2015-2017)
Central Florida Association of Women Lawyers (CFAWL)
George C. Young American Inn of Court
Orange County Bar Association
- Chair, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (2014-2017)
ClaimsXchange

Wills for Victims of Aids
Guardian ad litem for Abused and Neglected Children

University of Alabama School of Law — J.D., 1984

National Trial Advocacy Team
Vice-Justice, Phi Alpha Delta Legal Society

University of North Alabama — B.S., Criminal Justice, with great honor, 1979

Presidential Award
Highest Grade Point Average in the Department
Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society

Florida — 1984
Alabama — 1985

U.S. District Courts of Florida (Southern, Middle, Northern)
U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court

AV-Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell
Certified Litigation Management Professional (Litigation Management Institute/Claims and Litigation Management)

Listed in Best Lawyers in America, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, 2023, 2024, 2025
The Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC) Diversity Award, July 2022
Orlando Business Journal, Diversity in Business Lifetime Achievement, 2022
Florida Bar Path to Unity, Recognized as One of Five Trailblazing Attorneys for Breaking Down Barriers, 2021
Litigation Counsel of America and Diversity Law Institute Diversity Award, 2019
The Florida Bar G. Kirk Haas Humanitarian Award, 2016
The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Diversity Award, 2016
The Defense Research Institute Sheryl J. Willert Pioneer Diversity Award, 2015
Litigation Counsel of America Peter Perlman Service Award, 2014
The Florida Bar Henry Latimer Diversity Award, presented by the Equal Opportunities in Law Section, Virgil Hawkins National Bar Association Florida Chapter and Florida Association of Women Lawyers, 2013
The ABA Section of Litigation's Diversity Leadership Award for "promoting full and equal participation in the legal profession," 2013
Florida Super Lawyer, 2008-2023
Florida Trend Magazine's Legal Elite 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014
Orlando Style Magazine's Legal Elite, 2015
Watermark's Central Florida Co-Person of the Year, 2002

Speaker, "Diversity Fatigue: An Overview of Recent Diversity Challenges and Opportunities," Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel Winter Meeting, February 2024
Moderator, "Explosive Rise of Nuclear Verdicts: Identifying Potential Triggers, Managing Risks & Controlling Outcomes," FDCC Insurance Industry Institute, November 2023
Panelist, "Selecting Outside Counsel Who Embrace Diversity and Inclusion – Why It Works For Everyone," The Leader in WE, FDCC Corporate Counsel Symposium, October 2023
Presenter, "Best Practices to Address LGBTQ+ Discrimination and Implicit Bias," Orange County Bar Association Diversity & Inclusion Certificate Program, May 2023
Panelist, "Benefits and Challenges of a Multigenerational Workforce and Navigating Religious/Cultural Differences in the Workplace," Hillsborough County Bar Association Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Path to Unity Luncheon and Diversity Fair, February 2023
Presenter, "LGBTQ+ Rights – Update from Florida," New Jersey State Bar Association LGBTQ Rights Section, Mid-Year Meeting, November 2022
Guest, "Diverse Orange," Facebook Live event produced by FusionFest Orlando, September 20, 2022
Guest, "FED Speaks: Mondays with Mills Gallivan," a podcast produced by the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC), September 19, 2022
Moderator, "Elimination of Bias Breakout: Othering or Smothering? Creating Thoughtfulness Without “Thought Policing” for Diversity & Inclusion Efforts in the Legal Profession," American Bar Association Litigation Meeting, May 2022
Presenter, "The Evolution of Thinking About LGBTQ," Florida Path to Unity, The Florida Bar, April 2022
Presenter, "Speaking Inside View: Legal and Ethical Considerations for Corporate Counsel," ABA 2022 Motor Vehicle Product Liability Conference, April 2022
Author, "The Next Step In Professionalism: Inclusive Excellence," The Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism at The Florida Bar, December 2020
Panelist, "Model Rule 8.4(g): Eliminating Bias, Discrimination, and Harassment in the Practice of Law," ABA Diversity & Inclusion Committee, February 24, 2021
Presenter, "Diversity: Why Does it Matter?," Litigation Counsel of America Annual Conference (paper and presentation), October 2019
Speaker, “A History of Diversity in the Orange County Bar," Orange County Bar Association, October 2019
Speaker, “Leadership In The Face of Disaster," Defense Research Institute Annual Conference, October 2018
Speaker, "Premises Liability," Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, July 2018
Speaker, "Leadership Lessons from Pulse," ABA Diversity and Inclusion/LGBT Joint Committee, April 2018
Speaker, “Leadership Lessons from Pulse,” ABA Luncheon of the Fellows, April 2018
Speaker, “Emerging Legal and Litigation Trends In Premises Liability," National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms, February 2018
Speaker, "Diversity Symposium," The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division, May 2017
Speaker, "The 45th Trial Academy of the International Association of Defense Counsel," Stanford Law School, Summer, 2017
Speaker, "The Right to Love, Looking at Loving v. Virginia and Obergefell v. Hodges," George C. Young Central Florida Inn of Court, May 16, 2017
Speaker, "Professionalism, Diversity & Inclusion," Ninth Circuit Traffic Officers, Orange County Courthouse, May 12, 2017
Speaker, "Diversity in Law Firms," Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Diversity Symposium, Orange County Bar Association, May 12, 2017
Speaker, "Pulse: An Inside Look And Lessons Learned," International Association of Defense Counsel, Annual Meeting, Scottsdale, Arizona, February 20, 2017
Speaker, "Presentation of the G. Kirk Haas Humanitarian Scholarship and Remarks on Diversity and Unity," The University of Florida School of Law, November 17, 2016
Speaker, "Emails: The Cockroaches of Litigation," Central Florida Public Risk Managers Association (PRIMA), September 16, 2016
Speaker, "Product Liability – Differences in the Restatement 2nd and Restatement 3rd of Torts as Relates to Product Liability Claims and Various Nuances of Failure to Warn Claims," Florida Defense Lawyers Association/Florida Liability Claims Conference Annual Meeting, June 2015
Speaker, "Death by a Thousand Cuts: Confronting Hidden Bias and Ethical Considerations in the Legal Community," DRI Diversity Conference, Chicago, June 2015
Panelist, "A Year After Windsor: Panel Discussion," U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Florida, June 2014
Speaker, "Guardians of the Legal Profession: Benefits of Serving as a Community Leader," The Florida Bar Leadership Academy, Orlando, Florida, March, 2014
Speaker, "Professionalism and Diversity: The Outlook for the Invisible Minority," Diversity Institute Summit, Chicago, 2012
Speaker, "Trial Management in 2011: Using Technology to Increase Effectiveness," Council on Litigation Management, New Orleans, 2011
Speaker "Building Bridges Between the Bench, Bar and the Community," The Florida Bar Voluntary Bar Leaders Conference, July, 2010
Speaker, "National Diversity Forum: Building Strength Through Diversity, Claims and Litigation Management Alliance," New York City, 2011
Speaker, "Team Building and Leadership Skills," Central Florida Paralegal Association, Orlando, December, 2010
Speaker, "Case Law Update," CEU Institute for National Insurance & Healthcare Continuing Education, 2009
Speaker, "Outlook for the Invisible Minority," Litigation Council of America Diversity Summit, Atlanta, 2009
Speaker, "Litigating High Profile Cases During Governmental Agency Investigation: A Multi-Prong Approach," Litigation Council of America, Charleston, 2009
Speaker, "Diversity: Creating The Winning Edge," The Florida Bar Annual Convention, 2008
Author, "Does Biomechanics Pass the Daubert (and Frye) Requirements?," American Bar Association Emerging Issues in Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation Conference, 2008
Speaker, "Professionalism," The Florida Bar Solo and Small Firm Section, 2007
Speaker, "Strategic Use Of Summary Judgment: Cutting The Catastrophic Case Down To Size, Litigation Counsel of America," Spring Conference, 2007
Speaker, Voluntary Bar Leadership Conference, The Florida Bar, 2006
Speaker, "Professionalism," The Florida Bar, Solo & Small Firm Convention, 2006
Speaker, Pathways to Diversity Conference, Minority Corporate Counsel Association, 2006
Speaker, Second Annual Diversity Symposium, The Florida Bar, 2005
"Proof of Defect Without Testimony: Can a Plaintiff Survive Summary Judgment?" American Bar Association, 2002
Speaker, "Professionalism and Diversity: The Outlook for the Invisible Minority," Litigation Counsel of America, Fall Conference, 2007
"The Cutting Edge: Case Law Update," Defense Research Institute, 2003
"How Similar Is Substantially Similar? A Defense Perspective," American Bar Association, 2002
Speaker, "Masters in Professionalism Series: Diversity," The Florida Bar, 2001
Speaker, "Successful Lawyering in a Diverse Society: Diversity: It's Good Business," The Florida Bar Annual Meeting, 2000
Speaker, "The Hot Seat: Seat Back Claims Issues and Trends," American Bar Association Emerging Issue in Automotive Product Litigation Conference, 2000

Larry D. Smith

Practices

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Best Lawyers in America® 2025 Edition Recognizes 24 RumbergerKirk Attorneys

Larry Smith Participates in “Fed Talks” During FDCC Winter Meeting

Selecting Outside Counsel Who Embrace Diversity and Inclusion – Why It Works For Everyone

Best Lawyers in America© Recognizes 24 RumbergerKirk Attorneys with Managing Partner Frank Sheppard Named Lawyer of the Year

Seven RumbergerKirk Attorneys Listed in 2023 Florida Super Lawyers®

Best Practices to Address LGBTQ+ Discrimination and Implicit Bias

The Path to Unity Statewide Outreach Lands in Bay County

The Path to Unity Traveling Exhibit Visits Hillsborough County

Creative Pinellas hosts the Florida Bar’s Path to Unity Project, The Weekly Challenger

LGBTQ+ Rights – Update from Florida

Larry D. Smith

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