WESTPORT, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/ABA?src=hash” target=”_blank”gt;#ABAlt;/agt;–Maura Smith recently joined the Law Offices of Edward Nusbaum P.C. as a
partner. Smith is involved with the full spectrum of client
representation, trials, drafting and prosecution of pre- and
post-judgment motions, conducting and managing discovery and
depositions, negotiation and drafting of separation agreements, and
other agreements submitted to the court. The
Law Offices of Edward Nusbaum is a Westport-based family law firm
dedicated solely to the practice of family law.
Prior to joining the firm, Smith founded her own law firm in 2016 after
a 35-year career in private practice and as the general counsel of
several large public companies. Smith’s law firm, with offices in New
York City and New Canaan, Conn., focused on commercial and matrimonial
matters. Her firm acted as national claims and settlement counsel for a
national retailer, and advised several public companies on compliance
and governance matters. Smith also represented individuals in employment
discrimination matters, and served as an arbitrator for the American
Arbitration Association on its national roster of commercial arbitrators.
In her matrimonial practice, she used her knowledge of corporate law and
executive compensation, as well as her financial training, to achieve
outstanding results for her clients. She also served as co-counsel in
cases with large marital estates, including non-U.S. assets,
privately-owned businesses and complex financial instruments. In 2018,
she became a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, and a
member of the American Academy of Financial Litigators, New York Chapter.
Early in her career, Smith was a partner in the law firm of Baker
McKenzie, one of the largest international firms in the world. While in
private practice, Smith represented individuals in family matters, as
well as banks and small businesses. Smith left private practice to
become general counsel of GE Plastics. She was appointed a GE officer in
1993, then one of a handful of women officers. She left GE in 1998 to
become senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of
Owens Corning. In addition to her legal responsibilities, Smith served
as Owens Corning’s chief restructuring officer and was elected to its
board of directors. She achieved national recognition for her innovative
efforts to resolve asbestos litigation, testifying before Congress to
urge the enactment of legislation that would permit companies to pay
injured workers in privately negotiated settlement programs like the one
she implemented for Owens Corning.
In 2003, Smith returned to Connecticut, joining International Paper as
senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. Smith
relocated to Memphis, Tenn. when the Stamford, Conn.-based company moved
its headquarters there in 2005. In addition to overseeing a 100-person
global legal department, she sponsored and participated in pro bono
initiatives in the community, and was appointed by the Tennessee Supreme
Court to serve on its Access to Justice Commission.
Smith moved to New Canaan, Conn. in 2011 to become chief legal officer
of PepsiCo. In 2013, she accepted an ex-patriate assignment in Brussels,
Belgium, to become executive vice president, general counsel, and
general secretary of Delhaize Group, now Ahold Delhaize, one of the
world’s largest food retail groups. She was a member of its six-person
executive committee before returning to the U.S. at the end of 2014.
As general counsel, Smith led large legal organizations and advised
boards and CEOs on a wide range of corporate transactions and governance
matters. She also represented her clients in significant litigation
matters before the U.S. Supreme Court, federal appeals courts, and
various district and state courts throughout the country, including
nationwide product liability class action lawsuits, personal injury
lawsuits, antitrust and trade secret theft cases, employment
discrimination, environmental and other regulatory matters.
Smith graduated from Vassar College with highest honors and highest
distinction in her major, economics, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and
was among the first women to be awarded a Rhodes Scholarship. As a
Rhodes Scholar, she attended the University of Oxford, earning her
master of philosophy degree in economics, and then attended the
University of Miami School of Law as a John M. Olin Fellow in Law &
Economics, receiving her J.D. with honors in 1982.
“We are pleased to welcome Maura to our practice,” said Edward Nusbaum,
the firm’s founding partner and principal. “Maura’s insights and
experience will afford clients an invaluable perspective, further
complementing our firm’s culture of service and dedication to the
exceptional representation of our clients. She will also continue to
represent clients who reside in New York in divorce and other family law
matters, and will continue her work as an arbitrator.”
Smith is admitted to the bars of Connecticut, New York, Tennessee,
Florida, and the Supreme Court of the United States. She is a member of
various state and local bar associations, including the Connecticut Bar
Association, and its Family Law Section, the New York Bar Association,
and its Family Law Section, and the American Bar Association.
The
Law Offices of Edward Nusbaum P.C., located at 212 Post Road West,
represents individuals with substantial assets in all areas of family
law matters, including divorce, alimony, child support, property
division, child custody and relocation cases. A significant portion of
the firm’s work is concentrated in Fairfield County, although it also
represents clients who reside in other counties, and those who have
assets or business interests in other states or countries. For
additional information on the Law Offices of Edward Nusbaum P.C., please
visit its website at http://www.nusbaumfamilylaw.com/
or call 203-226-8181.
Contacts
Jason Kannon
Kannon Public Relations
203.981.4230
[email protected]
