Jessica Cullen Smith is a partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP and is based in the Firm’s Los Angeles Office. She is a founder and co-chair of the Electronic Data Management, Privacy & Discovery group. Jessica focuses her practice on electronic discovery and related issues.
Jessica regularly works with clients in a broad spectrum of industries to develop practical, cost-effective strategies for managing the complex challenges that electronic data presents in many disputes. Jessica also assists clients with records management counseling before litigation commences. She has experience in handling transactional matters for media and entertainment companies. Jessica’s past experience includes work on the acquisition of television stations; the acquisition, sale and distribution of cable channels; the creation of international joint ventures for the distribution of sports programming; financing arrangements for media companies; and the acquisition, sale and licensing of various media properties.
Jessica is an active member of the Sedona Conference's Working Group on Electronic Document Retention and Production. She is a vice-chair of the American Bar Association Corporate Compliance Committee and serves as co-chair of its Subcommittee on Document Retention and Electronic Documents. She is also a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Jessica serves on the Firm's Gender Diversity Committee, the Professional Responsibility Committee, the Professional Liability Committee and the Associate Development Committee. She was recognized by the Firm as an outstanding mentor from 2006 to 2007. In 2009, Jessica assisted in launching the Women's Leadership and Mentoring Alliance on the West Coast.
Jessica is admitted to practice in California and Massachusetts.
Education
- Boston University School of Law, J.D. (magna cum laude), 1991
- Vassar College, B.A., 1985
