Brian Smith provides strategic and legal advice on matters that require substantial political, reputational, or government relations considerations. He represents companies and individuals in high-profile or high-risk investigations, particularly congressional investigations, criminal investigations with political implications, and investigations related to political law compliance. He has significant experience in crisis management, where he advises clients facing combined legal, political, and media relations risks. His practice also includes the development and execution of government relations initiatives, including securing the U.S. government’s political support on behalf of U.S. companies facing international legal issues.
Mr. Smith is a leader in the firm’s congressional investigations practice. He frequently prepares senior corporate officials appearing before Congress in contentious oversight investigations. His recent experiences include preparing multiple CEOs and other senior executives of Fortune 100 companies. Mr. Smith has handled oversight investigations for clients in sectors including consumer products, financial services, pharmaceuticals, health care, internet services, manufacturing, and government contracts.
Mr. Smith has experience in a wide variety of subject matters, including international trade and affairs, government contracts, immigration, aviation, clean energy and climate, and telecommunications policy. Mr. Smith also has significant experience in legislative drafting; he has prepared multiple bills enacted by Congress as well as legislation passed in nearly every state legislature.
Prior to joining Covington, Mr. Smith served in the White House as Assistant to the Special Counsel to President Clinton. In that capacity, he handled matters related to the White House’s response to investigations, including four independent counsel investigations, a Justice Department task force investigation, two major oversight investigations by the House of Representatives and the Senate, and several other congressional oversight investigations.
Mr. Smith is an Associate Professorial Lecturer in Law at the George Washington University Law School.
