By Forbes Staff,Liane Jackson
Copyright forbes
Michelle Rohn for forbes
Sherrese Smith
Firm: Paul Hastings
Title: Global Managing Partner
Forbes List: America’s Top Lawyers 2025
As Paul Hastings’ global managing partner and one of the nation’s preeminent advisors in media, technology and telecommunications law, Sherrese Smith handles critical, high stakes matters for a portfolio of clients including Live Nation, Disney and AT&T. In addition to helping guide the firm’s management and strategy, Smith maintains a wide-ranging and active practice as part of the Data Privacy and Cybersecurity and Media and Technology groups, advising on breach and crisis response, regulatory investigations, enforcement proceedings, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
“At this point people call me for bet-the-company matters where there’s been a big issue that’s come up, whether it’s a complex cybersecurity matter, or they’re doing a deal where privacy and security or governance issues are at the forefront,” Smith says. “They need me to get it done, get it across the line, get it through any regulatory issues and then present it at the board or company level.”
Smith says she has always been fascinated and immersed in the world of tech—a driver for her practice specialty. She began her career focusing on media technology law, followed by stints as vice president and general counsel of Washington Post Digital and chief counsel at the FCC, where she broadened into privacy and cybersecurity—experiences that have positioned her to meet the moment: “They’re so intertwined—media, technology, privacy, cybersecurity and now AI—that I had to build out the skillsets over all of these years that allow me to be a great advocate and consigliere for my clients.”
And the advice she has for those coming up the ranks mirrors the path she followed from an undergraduate finance degree to law school to a successful and rewarding 30-year career, now at the top of one of the world’s premier firms: Stay nimble, keep up with the trends, see around corners and remain client-focused. Also—get involved. Among other pursuits, Smith is a faculty member for the Practicing Law Institute, serves on the board of directors of two public companies, and is Chair of Northwestern University’s Law School Board.
“I’m hoping to be an example of someone who can show others that if you stick it out—and there will always be obstacles and challenges—there will also be wonderful professional opportunities,” Smith says. “And I think one of my greatest gifts is to be able to make sure that the people behind me have my support and have the ability to look at me and say, there’s someone like me who did this.”
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