Atty. Elizabeth Smiley

Atty. Elizabeth Smiley

Elizabeth Smiley joined Baron & Budd’s Los Angeles office in 2018 as an associate in the Firm’s Class Action Litigation Group. There she helps bring nationwide, multi-million-dollar lawsuits to successful conclusion on behalf of our clients.

Encino Encino 10 yrs experience 10 year
Call (818) 839-2333 Book Appointment

Profile Summary

About Elizabeth Smiley at a glance

Elizabeth Smiley is a class action and product liability attorney based in Encino, California, practicing at Baron & Budd PC. They have 10+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 2016. Admitted to practice in California, The State Bar of California (2016). Educated at The University of Arizona (J.D., 2017) and The University of Arizona (B.A., 2014). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Awards: (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Lawyers (National Trial Lawyers, 2025) (2026). Serands clients in Encino, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Elizabeth Smiley joined Baron & Budd’s Los Angeles office in 2018 as an associate in the Firm’s Class Action Litigation Group
  • There she helps bring nationwide, multi-million-dollar lawsuits to successful conclusion on behalf of our clients
  • In her work at Baron & Budd, Ms. Smiley is a trial attorney protecting the rights of consumers from corporate fraud
  • In 2020, she was part of the trial team that won the largest verdict in the State of Hawaii against a pair of pharmaceutical companies that were shown at trial to have suppressed research into critical drug safety issues and failed to warn consumers about known risks associated with a popular cardiovascular medication
  • She was also part of the appellate team representing the State of Hawaii at the Hawaii Supreme Court regarding the same case
  • In 2022, Public Justice nominated Ms. Smiley for Trial Lawyer of the Year for her work on that case
  • Ms. Smiley has also been an integral part of the trial teams for several cases in opioid litigation across the country
  • In 2022, she was trial counsel for the State of New Mexico in an eight-week trial against a number of major pharmacies responsible for contributing to the opioid epidemic
  • She was also on the trial team representing the State of Michigan in opioid litigation against a major pharmacy
  • Ms. Smiley was the lead associate handling the abatement and damages witnesses for both cases, which included seeking billions of dollars on behalf of each client
  • When Ms. Smiley is not working on cases against the pharmaceutical industry, she works on class-action cases against major institutions, such as banks and mortgage brokers, regarding large scale corporate fraud
  • She has worked on cases ranging from insurance and banking fraud to fraudulent concealment of product safety defects
  • Ms. Smiley is proud to use her experience to hold companies accountable for their actions and protect consumers
  • Ms. Smiley attended the University of Arizona where she received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in Finance
  • She then obtained her Juris Doctor from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law
  • While in law school, Ms. Smiley served as the Senior Managing Editor for the Arizona Journal of International and Comparative Law
  • She also interned at the Pima County Public Defender’s office where she aided attorneys in providing high quality representation to indigent defendants
  • Before coming to Baron & Budd, Ms. Smiley clerked at the Los Angeles Superior Court for the Honorable Elaine Lu
  • Ms. Smiley grew up in Arizona with a passion for arts and performance
  • She studied ballet through the Royal Academy of Dance for 12 years and minored in ballet in college
  • Ms. Smiley first became interested in law while participating in mock trial programs in high school and college
  • She was a national finalist in several mock trial competitions at both the college and law school levels of competition
  • Ms. Smiley has a passion for teaching trial skills and advocacy
  • She is the Head Coach of UCLA’s undergraduate mock trial program and she is also on the Board of Directors of the American Mock Trial Association
  • In her free time, Ms. Smiley takes advantage of the thriving performing arts scene in Los Angeles and attends as many ballet and theatrical performances as she can

Practice Areas Explained

Elizabeth Smiley's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Elizabeth Smiley handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Class Action

Elizabeth Smiley is one of 26,424 class action attorneys indexed nationally. Browse class action attorneys in California →

Product Liability

Elizabeth Smiley is one of 66,193 product liability attorneys indexed nationally. Browse product liability attorneys in California →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in California

Practicing law in California. Legal matters in California are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Encino are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate California state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in California brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in California courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional California attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Encino or all attorneys in California.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Elizabeth Smiley

Where is Elizabeth Smiley's law office located?
Elizabeth Smiley's law practice is located in Encino, California. The firm is Baron & Budd PC. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Elizabeth Smiley handle?
Elizabeth Smiley focuses on class action, product liability. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in California.
How long has Elizabeth Smiley practiced law?
Elizabeth Smiley has 10+ years of legal experience and has been licensed since 2016.
Where did Elizabeth Smiley go to law school?
Elizabeth Smiley earned their education at (J.D., 2017); (B.A., 2014).
How can I contact Elizabeth Smiley for a consultation?
You can contact Elizabeth Smiley directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Elizabeth Smiley received?
Elizabeth Smiley's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs; Best Lawyers in America — Awards:; Best Lawyers in America — Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Lawyers (National Trial Lawyers, 2025); Best Lawyers in America — Rising Stars of the Plaintiffs Bar, Elite Trial Lawyers (National Law Journal, 2024); Best Lawyers in America — Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist (Public Justice, 2022).

Education

J.D.
The University of Arizona
- 2017
B.A.
The University of Arizona
- 2014

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Lawyers (National Trial Lawyers, 2025)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Rising Stars of the Plaintiffs Bar, Elite Trial Lawyers (National Law Journal, 2024)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist (Public Justice, 2022)
- 2026

Bar Admissions

California, The State Bar of California
Admitted: 2016

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