Chicago lawyer Todd A. Smith is a founding partner of Smith LaCien LLP, a leading Chicago personal injury law firm whose Chicago medical malpractice lawyers and accident attorneys regularly confront corporations, insurance companies, hospitals, and government agencies on behalf of the everyday people who have suffered catastrophic injuries or wrongful death.
Our Chicago personal injury lawyers have achieved more than $3.5 billion in settlements and verdicts and attained more than 100 settlements and verdicts that exceed $5 million.
Smith LaCien wasrecognized in Jury Verdict Reporter’s annual Settlements Report as one of the Top 5 plaintiff’s injury law firms in 2025 with settlements of $96.5 million. Its largest settlement was for $30.5 million, awarded to the family of a construction worker who died from injuries sustained on the job. Todd Smith was also named a recipient of the JVR/Law Bulletin Media 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award.
A founding partner of Power Rogers & Smith, P.C., in 1993, he left the firm to start Smith LaCien LLP with Brian LaCien in March 2020.
Todd’s extensive bar leadership includes serving as president of several leading bar associations. He has won numerous awards for his accomplishments, professionalism, and altruism and has been featured in national, local, and legal publications, including the New York Times, USA Today, Chicago magazine, Chicago Tribune, Crain’s Chicago Business and Chicago Lawyer magazine.
Honors:
JVR/Law Bulletin Media Lifetime Achievement Award, 2025
Lawdragon Hall of Fame, 2022
Board member, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2022
Named by the Supreme Court of Illinois as chair of the Evidence Committee, 2021.
Lawdragon Top 500 Leading Lawyers in America, 2021
Listed by Illinois SuperLawyers as the Number 2 top-rated Illinois lawyer in its 2021 edition – covering all practice areas. He has been on the Illinois Super Lawyers list since its inception in 2005 and is regularly ranked in the Top 10.
The Best Lawyers in America since 1997
AAJ’s Leonard Ring Champion of Justice Award, 2015
Illinois State Bar Association’s “Distinguished Award for Excellence,” 2015
Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year, 2012
Mass Tort Lawyer of the Year, 2011
Lifetime Achievement Award, American Association of Justice, 2009
Member, Inner Circle of Advocates, 2005
Member, International Society of Barristers, 1996
Illinois Bar Foundation; Long Range Planning Committee, 1992-1993; Vice-Chair, Task Force on Minorities and the Justice System, 1993-1996; Elected Member, Scope & Correlation Committee, 1992-1993; Chair, Assembly Committee on Integrated Bar, 1993-1994; Chair, Standing Committee on Investments, 1993-1994; Member, Standing Committee on Budget & Audit, 1993-1994; Elected, Third Vice-President, 1994; Chairman, Standing Committee on ISBA Properties, 1994-1995; Board of Directors, ISBA Mutual Insurance Company, 1995—; Second Vice President, 1997-1998; First Vice President, 1998-1999; Chairman of the Board, 1999-2000); American Bar Association (Chairman of the Board, 1998-1999; Member, Sections on: Litigation; Space and Aviation; Tort and Insurance Practice; Member, Editorial Board of the "Brief," 1990-1992; Member, House of Delegates, 1995-1999); Fellow, American Bar Foundation; Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (Secretary, Amicus Curiae Committee, 1985-1987; Chairman, 1987-1989. Moderator, Trial Advocacy Seminar, December 1984; Member: Legislative Committee; Board of Managers, 1985—; Chairman: Legislative Committee, 1989-1995; Constitutional Challenge Committee, 1995-1997; Co-Chairman, Publications Committee, 1995-1997; Rules of Professional Conduct Committee, 1990-1992; Seminar Planning Chairman, 1992-1994; Executive Committee 1997-1998; Nominating Committee, 1998); Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Sustaining Member, Parliamentarian, 1999-2000; Treasurer, 2000-2001; Secretary, 2001-2002; Vice-President, 2002-2003; President-Elect, 2003-2004; President, 2004-2005; Member, Judicial Independence Committee, 1998-2000; Co-Chair, Legal Affairs Liaison Committee, 2000—; Chair, Public Affairs Committee, 2002-2003; Member: Amicus Curiae Committee, 1988-1993; Constitutional Litigation Committee, 1988-1995; Fellow, Trustee, Roscoe Pound Foundation; Fundraising Events Subcommittee, 1988-1989; Steering Subcommittee on Special Events; Board of Governors, 1989—; Member, Executive Committee, 1998—; ATLA Endowment Trustee, 1999—; Vice President, Board of Trustees, 2004-2005; Chair, Regional Judges Forum, Roscoe Pound Foundation, 2000—; Chair, Committee on Investments, 1999-2000; Co-Chair, Membership Oversight Committee, 1999-2000; Chair, Coordinating Committee of State Relations, 1999-2000; "M" Club, 1990—; ATLA PAC Committee, 1989-1991; Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, 1989—; Fellow, Civil Justice Foundation, 1989—; Chairman, Amicus Curiae Committee, 1990-1992; Member: Organizational Review Committee, 1991-1993; Aviation Advisory Committee, 1991-1993; Federal Rules Committee, 1991-1993; Vice-Chair; Legal Affairs Committee, 1992-1993 and 1996-1998; Vice-Chair, Aviation Law Section, 1992-1994; Chair Aviation Law Section, 1994-1995; Member: Mass Tort Sub-Committee, 1992-1993; Board of Trustees, National College of Advocacy, 1993-1996; Program Advisory Committee 1994 ATLA Annual Convention; Elected Member, Organization and Home Office Committee, 1994-1996); The Society of Trial Lawyers (Member, Board of Directors, 1992-1995); Trial Lawyers for Public Justice; Trial Lawyers Club of Chicago (Member, Board of Managers, 1987—); American Inn of Court-Markey Wigmore Chapter. Fellow, The Inner Circle of Advocates. Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers. Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers. Fellow, International Society of Barristers.
