Atty. Timothy P. Smith

Atty. Timothy P. Smith

Mr. Smith has practiced as a trial attorney since graduating Notre Dame Law School in 1992.

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Profile Summary

About Timothy P. Smith at a glance

Timothy P. Smith is a personal injury attorney based in Traverse City, Michigan, practicing at Smith & Johnson PC. Admitted to practice in Michigan, P48259. Educated at University of Notre Dame (JD, 1992). Recognitions include Lawyer of the Year — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (Northern Michigan) (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026). Serands clients in Traverse City, MI and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Mr. Smith has practiced as a trial attorney since graduating Notre Dame Law School in 1992
  • He has litigated cases across the country including cases from Ventura County, California to Middlesex County, New Jersey
  • He practices in both State and Federal courts.In 2017, he began representing Michigan cities and counties in what has shaped up to be one of the largest pieces of litigation ever in the history of our federal court system
  • The majority of Northern Michigan and Upper Peninsula counties retained Mr. Smith and his team to represent their interests in MDL No. 2804, In RE: National Prescription Opioid Litigation currently pending in the Federal Court for the Northern District of Ohio
  • In the fall of 2020 he filed 2 of the first Paragard IUD cases in Michigan
  • Those cases are now transferred, along with a recently filed third case, to MDL No. 2974 in the Northern District of Georgia as part of In RE: Paragard IUD Products Liability Litigation.In addition to complex Federal Court MDLs, he successfully represents individuals in a broad array of civil cases
  • In 1998, in Oscoda County, he obtained the highest plaintiff’s verdict in the history of that county in an auto accident case
  • He has a proven track record not only in injury cases, but also divorce, criminal and civil litigation
  • As a commercial litigator, he has collected over 5.5 million dollars since 2017 for a single Credit Union client in south central Michigan.In 2002, at 34 years of age, he was one of the youngest attorneys in the state to receive an AV-rating, the highest rating, from Martindale-Hubbell
  • In 2016, 2018 and 2020, Best Lawyers listed Mr. Smith as the Plaintiff’s Lawyer of the Year for Northern Michigan
  • Both Best Lawyers and Martindale-Hubbell rely on peer review from other attorneys and local judges as to these rankings, which represent the highest level of professional excellence in the field
  • Mr. Smith has been identified as one of the Top 100 trial attorneys in the State of Michigan by the National Trial Lawyers since 2019.He is a frequent speaker in the area of litigation strategies and techniques and has annually moderated the Michigan Trial Lawyers Winter Seminar since 2000
  • In 2006, he was named to the 40 under 40 list by the Grand Traverse Business News and was named to the “A-List” of attorneys in Northern Michigan by Traverse the Magazine.Mr
  • Smith has sat on the Board of Directors for the Father Fred Foundation, the Board of Trustees of the Great Lakes Children Museum, the Board of Directors for the Brain Injury Association of Michigan, and the Executive Board of the Michigan Association for Justice, a/k/a – Michigan Trial Lawyers Association
  • He currently sits as a director on the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce Board.Mr
  • Smith was a licensed fly fishing guide from 1999 to 2009, spent many evenings coaching kids’ basketball, softball and volleyball, enjoys hunting and fishing throughout Northern Michigan and currently enjoys being an empty nester with his wife now that his three children have headed off to college

Practice Areas Explained

Timothy P. Smith's Areas of Practice

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

Personal Injury

Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.

Timothy P. Smith is one of 264,852 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in Michigan →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Michigan

Practicing law in Michigan. Legal matters in Michigan are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Traverse City are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Michigan state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Michigan 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 Michigan courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Michigan attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Traverse City or all attorneys in Michigan.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Timothy P. Smith

Where is Timothy P. Smith's law office located?
Timothy P. Smith's law practice is located in Traverse City, Michigan. The firm is Smith & Johnson PC. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Timothy P. Smith handle?
Timothy P. Smith focuses on personal injury. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Michigan.
Where did Timothy P. Smith go to law school?
Timothy P. Smith earned their education at (JD, 1992).
How can I contact Timothy P. Smith for a consultation?
You can contact Timothy P. Smith 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 Timothy P. Smith received?
Timothy P. Smith's notable recognition includes: Lawyer of the Year — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (Northern Michigan); Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs; Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:; Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation; Best Lawyers in America — Family Law.

Education

JD
University of Notre Dame
- 1992

Awards

Lawyer of the Year — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (Northern Michigan)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Family Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
- 2026
Lawyer of the Year — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (Northern Michigan)
- 2024
Lawyer of the Year — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (Northern Michigan)
- 2022
Lawyer of the Year — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (Northern Michigan)
- 2020
Lawyer of the Year — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (Northern Michigan)
- 2018
Lawyer of the Year — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (Northern Michigan)
- 2016

Bar Admissions

Michigan, P48259

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