Robert W. Smyth, partner and co-founder of DBS, focuses his practice on professional malpractice defense, products liability defense and mass tort/environmental litigation. Mr. Smyth commenced his career as an associate in the litigation department of Baker & McKenzie and was elected to international partnership status in 1989. Mr. Smyth left Baker & McKenzie in 1995 to co-establish Donohue Brown Smyth.
Over the course of 40+ years of active litigation practice, Mr. Smyth has represented physicians and hospitals in high exposure malpractice actions, lawyers in legal malpractice actions, large manufacturers in product liability actions and multi-national construction companies in construction disputes. Mr. Smyth has tried to verdict dozens of high exposure cases. Mr. Smyth has successfully represented Fortune 100 manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies, international construction contractors, nationally renowned physicians, as well as school districts defending against mass-tort environmental claims. At the age of 36, Mr. Smyth successfully defended as the first chair trial attorney the target defendant in Illinois’ first “Sick Building Syndrome” trial, a well-publicized three-month jury trial. Mr. Smyth’s far-reaching experience in defending cases involving complex scientific causation issues, mass-tort liability potential and cases of catastrophic injury, uniquely qualify him for the role of counselor and prime litigator to defend virtually any case presenting high exposure.
Mr. Smyth served as managing partner of DBS from 2002-2007 and has served in many other leadership roles within the firm since the firm’s inception.
Mr. Smyth’s professional excellence has been recognized by peers, dating back to his consistent AV Martindale-Hubbell rating (the highest rating available) annually, since 2001, as well as his annual recognition as an Illinois Leading Lawyer (since 2004) and Illinois Super Lawyer (since 2006).
Mr. Smyth often speaks to attorneys seeking continuing legal education on subjects of evidence and procedure, as well as to groups of physicians concerning a variety of medical-legal issues.
Physician
Outcome:Defense Verdict.
On July 3, 2024, DBMS partner Rob Smyth and associate Scott Kater received a ‘Not Guilty’ verdict in a medical malpractice case in Cook County. DBMS’ attorneys represented a general surgeon. ...
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Outcome:Defense Verdict.
Rob Smyth and Joe Rourke of DBMS successfully defended a north suburban plastic surgeon in a week-long trial that proceeded before the Honorable Judge Joseph Salvi in Lake County, Illinois. ...
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