Leslie Smith is a partner with Foley & Lardner LLP. Leslie litigates a range of commercial matters at both the trial and appellate levels in both federal and state courts. Her franchising and distribution practice provides clients with counseling and litigation services, from initial negotiations through resolution, including mediation, arbitration and trial. Leslie has represented franchisors and distributors in a variety of commercial disputes involving trademarks, trade secrets, covenants not to compete and vicarious liability claims. She is a member of the Distribution & Franchise Practice and the former managing partner of the Miami office.
代表经验
- Obtaining a favorable verdict for a hospitality franchisor client on its counterclaim for breach of a franchise agreement preceded by the entry of summary judgment in favor of the franchisor, its parent company and two former employees on the franchisee’s complaint alleging RICO violations. The counterclaim was tried non-jury after the court granted our clients’ motion to strike jury demand
- Obtaining a summary judgment on a franchisor’s claims for post termination trademark infringement and counterfeiting against its former franchisee
- Obtaining injunctive relief on a distributor’s claims against a former employee for misappropriation of trade secrets and violations of a covenant not to compete
- Successfully defending a franchisor client from a competitor’s motion for injunctive relief arising out of claims of false advertising
- Obtaining a summary judgment for a franchisor in a wrongful death action involving Florida’s Dram Shop law
- Obtaining a preliminary injunction against a former employee of a logistics client for violation of the employee’s covenant not to compete who claimed the covenant to be unenforceable on the grounds of workplace harassment
- Winning preliminary injunctions on behalf of many franchisor clients to prevent former franchisee’s unauthorized use of the franchisor’s registered trademarks
奖项与表彰
- Selected as a 2023 “Franchise Law Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers.
- Recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business as one of the top franchise attorneys nationwide (2010 – 2023)
- Selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Franchise Law (2013 – 2024)
- Recognized as a Top Lawyer – Franchise in South Florida Legal Guide (2015 – 2018)
- Named to BTI Consulting Group’s coveted Client Service All Star Team in 2017, this honor is bestowed upon individual attorneys who deliver outstanding client service according to corporate counsel interviewed at large organizations with $1 billion or more in revenue
- 同行评议评级为 AV Preeminent®，这是 Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ 中最高的业绩评级
- Recognized by The International Who’s Who of Franchise Lawyers (2009 – 2013, 2016 – 2017)
- Selected for inclusion in the Florida Super Lawyers list (2014 – 2017)
- Recognized by her peers as one of Franchise Times Legal Eagles (2013 – 2014)
附属机构
- Member, Forum on Franchising
- 美国律师协会会员
- Member, International Franchise Association
- Member, Board of Governors Young Lawyers Division Executive Committee
- 女总裁组织成员
- Member 100+ Women Who Care
- Past member, Governing Committee
- Past member, Florida State Bar Association
- Past-president, Dade County Bar Association
演讲和出版物
- Co-author, “Annual Franchise and Distribution Law Developments,” American Bar Association (2004)
Leslie Smith Discusses Growth in Florida Legal Market
Foley & Lardner LLP Miami office managing partner Leslie Smith spoke with Law360 for its article, “Fla. Law Firm Leaders Envision Continued Growth In 2024.”
富理达律师入选 2024 年美国最佳律师排行榜
Foley & Lardner LLP 今天自豪地宣布，公司在美国 20 个办事处的 236 名律师入选 2024 年版《美国最佳律师》（The Best Lawyers in America©）。
富理达在 2023 年《钱伯斯美国》杂志中获得最高排名
Foley & Lardner LLP 很高兴地宣布，在 2023 年版《钱伯斯美国》（Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business）中，Foley & Lardner LLP 再次被钱伯斯律师事务所评为全美顶级律师事务所之一。
富理达律师入选 2023 年美国最佳律师排行榜
Foley & Lardner LLP 自豪地宣布，我们 20 个办事处的 250 名律师获得了 2023 年版《美国最佳律师》的认可。
富理达跻身《钱伯斯美国》2022 年评选的全国最佳律师事务所行列
在 2022 年版《钱伯斯美国》（Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business）中，富理达再次被钱伯斯律师事务所评为顶级律师事务所之一。
Words Matter: Crafting Arbitration Agreements That Stick — A View from the Trenches
Join Foley’s Roland Potts, Leslie Smith, and Michael Lockerby on May 19 in a detailed discussion of arbitration agreements and how to ensure they remain enforceable, mean what they say, and say what they mean.