Dean Smith

Dean Smith, Jr. is a trial attorney representing individuals and families in cases involving catastrophic personal injuries and wrongful death arising from auto, trucking, and motorcycle accidents. Dean also litigates employment disputes involving claims of discrimination (race, gender, disability, pregnancy), sexual harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and violations of federal and state medical leave and accommodation laws.

Dean is rated by Super Lawyers and has been recognized as a Southern California Rising Star. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Annually, only 2.5 percent of the lawyers in California are selected to receive the honor of Rising Star. Dean has also received numerous other professional awards and accolades, including receiving a rating of “Superb 10.0” – the highest possible rating – by AVVO.com (an independent lawyer research and rating service).

Prior to joining Valero Law Group, Dean was a litigator at several of Los Angeles’s powerhouse litigation boutiques representing corporate and individual clients in federal and state courts. There, he gained substantial experience in an array of complex litigation involving catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death (motorcycle, auto, and trucking accidents), clergy sexual abuse, consumer class actions, wrongful termination, discrimination (disability, race, gender, pregnancy), professional liability (attorneys, doctors, architects), and business torts.

Dean received his law degree from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, California. There, he was a member of the Entertainment Law Review, on the Dean’s List, and received the First Honor’s Award for obtaining the highest grade in Legal Research & Writing. Dean also served as a research assistant to Professor Laurie Levenson, a renowned and leading authority on criminal law and procedure. Dean received his undergraduate degree from California State University Northridge.