Biography
Todd dedicates his practice to serving as mediator in litigated and non-litigated matters with an emphasis on employment disputes including wage and hour class actions and PAGA actions as well as claims of discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, Labor Code 1102.5, and trade secrets violations.
Todd began practicing law as an associate in the employment law department of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker. Later he formed the legal partnership of Helmer • Smith, which represented individual and business clients in various civil rights, intellectual property, and business matters with a particular focus on litigating workplace disputes including discrimination, wrongful termination, sexual harassment, and ADA actions. He has experience litigating in both state and federal court, and has resolved scores of cases via trial, arbitration, and mediation, including a $1.9 million judgment in an age discrimination suit upheld by the California Supreme Court.
Todd is a Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators and a proud member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals. He has received mediation training on both coasts -- including Pepperdine’s Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution on the West and Linda Singer and Michael Lewis on the East. He was the former co-chair of both the San Fernando Valley Bar Association ADR Section and Beverly Hills Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section.
In addition to his mediation practice, Todd has served as an Adjunct professor in Southern California for over 20 years. He has taught employment law at both Southwestern Law School and UCLA Law School. Currently, he is teaching Employment Dispute Mediation at USC’s Gould School of Law, a course he designed specifically for their ADR program. One of Todd’s greatest pleasures is to work with former students. Todd is also a frequent speaker and enthusiastic supporter of Mediation.
About Todd Smith, ESQ.
