Perkins Coie Adds Veteran Labor & Employment Lawyer Paul Smith to Seattle Office

SEATTLE (November 30, 2021)—Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that Paul Smith has rejoined the firm's Labor & Employment practice in the Seattle office. Paul was most recently the vice president and deputy general counsel of employment at Terex Corporation, a global manufacturer of aerial work platforms and materials processing machinery.

Paul worked for Terex for more than a decade, serving as the company's chief employment lawyer for most of that time, and also leading the human resources function for the largest division of Terex for three years. Prior to that, he practiced labor and employment law with Perkins Coie for 16 years.

"Paul's deep experience counseling a global corporation on labor and employment law will be extremely valuable to our clients, many of whom operate across geographic borders," said Ann Marie Painter, chair of Perkins Coie's Labor & Employment practice. "Paul's perspective as in-house counsel will also be highly sought after amid a fast-evolving labor and employment landscape and the ongoing pandemic. We are thrilled to welcome Paul back to the firm and our expanding Labor & Employment practice."

Paul has managed a range of complex, international labor issues, including counseling on collective bargaining and union campaigns, and has extensive experience of labor and employment issues in relation to mergers and acquisitions and corporate restructurings. He focuses his practice on wage-and-hour matters, discrimination and harassment claims, workplace health and safety, immigration issues, and matters related to leaves of absences and disability accommodation. Paul has also counseled on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

"We're excited to welcome Paul back to Perkins Coie and our growing Labor & Employment practice," said James Williams, managing partner of Perkins Coie's Seattle office. "In addition to our nationwide Labor & Employment practice, Paul will also support our corporate and transactional practice groups throughout the firm."

Paul received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his B.A. from the University of Chicago.

Perkins Coie's Labor & Employment practice represents employers in all facets and at all stages of labor and employment relations. With a national reach, substantive depth, and trial experience, our attorneys routinely confront some of the most challenging issues facing employers in the modern workplace, including issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, #MeToo and social justice movements, the growth of the gig economy, employee privacy, and the evolving laws governing nondiscrimination in the workplace.