While the results of these cases are important, Smith said that he doesn’t focus on the numbers. Instead, he remem- bers the people. That includes the legal representation he provided for a 21-year-old man who was hit by a car in downtown Chi- cago, underneath the El tracks. The man ended up as a quadriplegic. While working at Corboy, Smith traveled to the hospital to interview the victim. “I had never been in this situation before,” Smith said. “This young man had a circular device around his head that was screwed into his skull to keep pressure off his spine. It ro- tated. He was face down when I was talking to him. Can you imagine what was going through his mind?” Smith fought hard to earn a good result for the man. And today? Smith still considers the man more than a client. He is a friend. “It was a challenging case, and it’s one that really sticks with me,” Smith said. “There are so many situations like that in which I was privileged to be able to help someone.” Even after so many years in the courtroom, Smith contin- ues to measure success not by headlines or dollar figures, but by the trust his clients place in him at their most vulner- able moments. From his earliest days as a public defender to his leadership at Smith LaCien, that guiding principle has never changed: stand up for people when they need it most and give their stories a voice.
Todd and Bill with their JVR Lifetime Achievement Awards (2025).
Todd and members of the firm at the JVR Trial Excellence Awards (2025).
JURY VERDICT REPORTER • 2025 ANNUAL TRIAL LAWYER EXCELLENCE AWARDS 63
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