As Vice President—Senior Claims Counsel, Lesley Smith manages all aspects of members’ claims, including assessing, reserving, and resolving claims against our member firms.
Lesley works cooperatively with member firms and defense counsel to defend and resolve claims arising under our lawyer professional liability, employment liability, and management liability coverages. In her role, Lesley gauges risk, evaluates liability, and creates and executes effective litigation strategies. She has negotiated numerous favorable settlements resolving complex lawsuits and claims against ALAS assureds. Lesley also advises member firms on minimizing claims, resolving conflicts, and managing internal and external law firm risks.
Before joining ALAS, Lesley was a partner at Schopf & Weiss LLP, a litigation boutique in Chicago. Her practice focused exclusively on commercial litigation, including professional liability defense. Lesley also served on the firm’s executive committee and as the firm’s hiring partner. Lesley began her legal career in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Before law school, she was a systems manager at Procter & Gamble Co. in Cincinnati, Ohio.
