Edward W. Smithers

Mr. Smithers is the founding partner of Smithers Law Firm. He practices in the area of commercial litigation, with an emphasis on employment and trade secret litigation. He is a 1981 graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, where he earned his B.A. in Economics. He earned his J.D. from the Santa Clara University School of Law in 1985, where he was on the Dean’s List from 1982-85, and also served on the Honors Moot Court Board. Mr. Smithers served as a law clerk to Judge William A. Ingram, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, from 1986-87.

Prior to starting the Firm, Mr. Smithers practiced law with Gibson Dunn and Crutcher in both San Jose and San Francisco. Mr. Smithers also practiced law with Cooley in Palo Alto.

Mr. Smithers sits as an arbitrator and judge pro tem for the Santa Clara County Superior Court. He has served on the Executive Committee for the Santa Clara County Business Litigation Section and was the Chairperson of that committee in 2001. He is a member of The Honorable William A. Ingram American Inn of Court and the St. Thomas More Society of Santa Clara County.

Mr. Smithers provides expert witness services, as well as serving as a mediator. He is an Adjunct Professor at the Santa Clara University School of Law, teaching the Trade Secrets class since 2005. He is also a member of the AIPLA Trade Secret Law Committee and has served as a volunteer attorney for the Santa Clara University Entrepreneurs’ Legal Advising Clinics.

OF COUNSEL

Mary Ann O’Hara

Ms. O’Hara practices in the area of commercial litigation, with an emphasis on employment and trade secret litigation. She is a 1985 graduate of Santa Clara University, where she earned her B.S. in Psychology. She earned her J.D. from Hastings College of Law, University of California in 1988, where she graduated cum laude and was a member of the Thurston Honor Society.

Ms. O’Hara has been with the Firm since 1999. Prior to joining the Firm, Ms. O’Hara practiced law with Willoughby, Stuart and Bening, as well as Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in San Jose.