Atty. Sherrese Smith
Sherrese Smith is the Global Managing Partner of Paul Hastings. As Global Managing Partner, Ms.
Profile Summary
About Sherrese Smith at a glance
Sherrese Smith is a securities attorney based in Washington, District of Columbia, practicing at Paul Hastings LLP. Educated at Northwestern University (J.D., 1996). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Privacy and Data Security Law (2026). Serands clients in Washington, DC and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Sherrese Smith is the Global Managing Partner of Paul Hastings
- As Global Managing Partner, Ms. Smith helps direct the growth, management, and strategy of the firm
- Ms. Smith previously served as the Vice Chair of the Data Privacy and Cybersecurity practice
- She is known as one of the country’s preeminent Data Privacy and Cybersecurity and Media and Technology attorneys
- Consistently ranked as a leading lawyer in Chambers USA and Legal 500, she is recognized throughout the legal, media, communications, and technology industries for her leadership, business acumen, and dedication to clients
- Her work includes data privacy, cybersecurity and breach response issues, crisis response, regulatory investigations, and enforcement proceedings, as well as counseling on global privacy and cybersecurity matters
- Ms. Smith is also renowned for superior advisement on crisis issues and, as a result, is regularly sought after by corporate board members and the C-suite
- Before joining Paul Hastings, Ms. Smith served as Chief Counsel to Chairman Julius Genachowski at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
- She was responsible for determining the agency’s business and policy agenda on a multitude of media and technology matters and for leading the FCC’s cross‑agency efforts to refine and implement new rules on data privacy and cybersecurity for multinational companies navigating complex data and privacy rules in the U.S., EU, and Asia
- Ms. Smith’s work also involved extensive interaction with external stakeholders, including wireless, media, cable, and telecommunications companies
- industry groups and trade associations
- federal and state agencies
- and Congress
- Prior to joining the FCC in 2009, Ms. Smith was Vice President and General Counsel of Washington Post Digital
- She was in charge of all legal and policy matters across 10 different business units in this role
- Ms. Smith also serves on the Board of Directors of Gen (NASDAQ:GEN) and Cable ONE (NYSE: CABO)
- She is also member of the Northwestern University’s Law School board, a member of the University of Maryland’s Journalism School board as well as America’s Public Television Stations executive board
Practice Areas Explained
Sherrese Smith's Areas of Practice
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Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in District of Columbia
Practicing law in District of Columbia. Legal matters in District of Columbia are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Washington are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate District of Columbia state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional District of Columbia attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Washington or all attorneys in District of Columbia.
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