Practice Focus

Jeffrey Smith's practice includes advising major defense and aerospace companies on national security and government contract matters. He also represents major media organizations and individuals with respect to unauthorized disclosures of classified information and the First Amendment. He has frequently represented prominent individuals in congressional investigations and federal prosecutions. He also represents major universities on national security issues.

In October 1996, Mr. Smith rejoined the firm after serving as General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from May 1995 to September 1996. In May of 1993, Secretary of Defense Perry appointed Mr. Smith to the Commission to Review the Roles and Missions of the Armed Services. Previously, he chaired the Joint Security Commission established by Secretary of Defense Aspin and Director of Central Intelligence Woolsey to review security policy and practices in the defense and intelligence communities. In late 1992 and early 1993, he served as the Chief of the Clinton Transition Team at the Department of Defense. Prior to joining Arnold & Porter LLP, Mr. Smith served as the General Counsel of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He also was Senator Sam Nunn's designee to the Iran/Contra Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Prior to working for the Senate, he was the Assistant Legal Adviser for Law Enforcement and Intelligence at the State Department. Earlier, as an Army Judge Advocate General officer, he served as the Pentagon's lawyer for the Panama Canal negotiations.

Representative Matters

• Represented Finmeccanica SpA in its acquisitions of DRS Technologies, Inc.
• Represented BAE Systems in its acquisition of ArmorHoldings, United Defense, and DigitalNet
• Represented DFI in its acquisition by Detica Group plc
• Represents major European defense and aerospace companies with respect to mergers and acquisitions, contracting with the US Government, relationships with the US government, export controls, issues of foreign ownership, and the performance of highly classified contracts
• Represents major US defense and aerospace companies on a wide range of national security and government contracts issues, including transactions, internal investigations, congressional investigations, export controls, and sensitive national security issues
• Represents In-Q-Tel, the company established by the CIA to acquire high technology solutions for the US Intelligence community
• Represents Ambassador L. Paul Bremer with respect to his service as Administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, including testimony at Congressional hearings
• Represents the Newspaper Association of America and major media associations on "leaks" of classified information and First Amendment issues
• Represented several former senior government officials and current and former members of Congress in sensitive investigations, including criminal investigations and prosecutions, involving national security
• Represented Martha Stewart in the House of Energy and Commerce Committee investigation of alleged insider trading
• Represent several leading universities on public policy and national security matters

Representative Matters

• Represented Finmeccanica SpA in its acquisitions of DRS Technologies, Inc.
• Represented BAE Systems in its acquisition of ArmorHoldings, United Defense, and DigitalNet
• Represented DFI in its acquisition by Detica Group plc
• Represents major European defense and aerospace companies with respect to mergers and acquisitions, contracting with the US Government, relationships with the US government, export controls, issues of foreign ownership, and the performance of highly classified contracts
• Represents major US defense and aerospace companies on a wide range of national security and government contracts issues, including transactions, internal investigations, congressional investigations, export controls, and sensitive national security issues
• Represents In-Q-Tel, the company established by the CIA to acquire high technology solutions for the US Intelligence community
• Represents Ambassador L. Paul Bremer with respect to his service as Administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, including testimony at Congressional hearings
• Represents the Newspaper Association of America and major media associations on “leaks” of classified information and First Amendment issues
• Represented several former senior government officials and current and former members of Congress in sensitive investigations, including criminal investigations and prosecutions, involving national security
• Represented Martha Stewart in the House of Energy and Commerce Committee investigation of alleged insider trading
• Represent several leading universities on public policy and national security matters

Rankings

The Best Lawyers in America 2010 for Public Finance Law

Washingtonian's "Top Lawyers" 2009 for National Security

Articles

Advisories