
Zachary Smith
Zachary Smith is an intellectual property attorney and litigator who helps businesses establish, protect, and enforce their intellectual property rights. His clients have included Walmart, McMaster-Carr, and iconic entertainment properties like The Lord of the Rings and The Wizard of Oz, as well as companies in chemicals, biosciences, medical, food and beverage, energy, franchising, distributing, gaming, sports and robotics. He advises on:
- Selection and Clearance of Trademarks, Product Designs, and Packaging
- Filing and Prosecution of Trademark and Copyright Applications
- Patent, Trademark, Copyright, Trade Secret, and Unfair Competition Litigation
- Licensing and Other Intellectual Property Business Transactions
- Brand Monitoring and Enforcement
- Intellectual Property Audits
- Domain Name Disputes
In addition to his intellectual property work, Mr. Smith has successfully handled complex disputes involving media and communications, employment law, real estate, banking, white collar defense, election law, franchising, and commercial contract litigation. He has guided clients through every phase of litigation—from pre-dispute counseling and early settlement negotiations to trial and appellate advocacy. Additionally, he clerked for the Honorable Robert T. Numbers, II of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Mr. Smith is one of the few attorneys trained in legal corpus linguistics, a data-driven method for interpreting legal texts using large language databases that courts are increasingly turning towards. He also brings a strong foundation in statistics, survey methodology, and quantitative analysis to his practice—tools that enhance his ability to deliver clear, persuasive, and evidence-based arguments. Known for translating technical concepts into compelling and accessible narratives, Mr. Smith is trusted to lead in high-stakes, -complex matters.
A passionate advocate for access to justice, Mr. Smith has contributed pro bono legal services in matters ranging from housing defense—successfully preventing eviction and securing vital home repairs for a single mother—to defending the rights of religious minorities through Becket Law. He has also advised small business owners on protecting their IP assets.
Admissions & Associations
Chair, J. Reuben Clark Law Society, Mid-Atlantic Chapter
Executive Secretary, Judicial Education Institute
Member, International Trademark Association
Co-Chair, Braver Angels, Western & Southern Virginia Alliance
State Bar of Virginia
District of Columbia Bar
State Bar of Arizona (pending)
US Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
US District Court Eastern District of Virginia
US District Court Western District of Virginia
US District Court Western District of Michigan
US District Court District of Columbia
Supreme Court of Virginia
District of Columbia Court of Appeals
Practice Groups
Education
BYU Law School, J.D., magna cum laude
Brigham Young University, B.S., Political Science, magna cum laude