Ivan D.Smith
Partner
Labor & Employment
idsmith@seyfarth.com
Ivan is a labor and employment litigator with a head for business. He understands the high stakes of his clients’ employment law matters.
More About Ivan
Today’s employers need seasoned guidance as they navigate complex employment laws and regulations—and a finely honed edge in the courtroom should matters move to litigation. Ivan has extensive experience representing clients in employment discrimination cases, mainly in class and multiplaintiff cases of regional and national scope. He has managed numerous class action cases in matters of wage and hour compliance, disability and web access, as well as cases involving race, age, national origin, and gender discrimination.
Ivan practices traditional labor law, representing clients across a variety of industries, including education, health care, sports, entertainment, food service, hotel construction, maintenance, shipping, airline, trucking, engineering, and nonprofit. He has assisted clients with collective bargaining, contract and grievance arbitrations, litigation pertaining to unfair labor practices, and legal matters before the National Labor Relations Board.
In his entertainment law practice, Ivan represents producers, writers, directors, and artists in the music, television, and film industries—many of whom are Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees and Grammy Award winners. He represents institutional investors who invest in film and music projects, as well as entertainment and tech companies seeking to protect their intellectual property and licensing rights. Ivan has litigated numerous copyright and trademark infringement cases on behalf of distributors, producers, and writers.
Ivan practices traditional labor law, representing clients across a variety of industries, including education, health care, sports, entertainment, food service, hotel construction, maintenance, shipping, airline, trucking, engineering, and nonprofit. He has assisted clients with collective bargaining, contract and grievance arbitrations, litigation pertaining to unfair labor practices, and legal matters before the National Labor Relations Board.
In his entertainment law practice, Ivan represents producers, writers, directors, and artists in the music, television, and film industries—many of whom are Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees and Grammy Award winners. He represents institutional investors who invest in film and music projects, as well as entertainment and tech companies seeking to protect their intellectual property and licensing rights. Ivan has litigated numerous copyright and trademark infringement cases on behalf of distributors, producers, and writers.
- JD, Albany Law School of Union University
- BA, Tufts University
Economics
- New York
- US Supreme Court
- US Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- US District Court, Eastern District of New York
- US District Court, Southern District of New York
Related Services
- Successfully defended real estate development company against race discrimination claim.
- Successfully defended nonprofit organization against race and sexual harassment claims.
- Successfully represented a major restaurant chain concerning “web access” claim.
- Successfully represented a wealth management company concerning breach of restrictive covenants claim.
- Successfully represented real estate management company in sexual harassment matter.
- Provided investigative services concerning a potential race claim for opera company.
- Provided investigative services concerning sexual harassment case for law firm.
- Successfully represented an air filter company concerning unfair labor practices issues and labor negotiations.
- Successfully represented hospitals in labor negotiations.
- Represented a legendary comedian and civil rights activist’s estate concerning a documentary film on Showtime.
- Representing a legendary singer, actor, and civil rights activist’s estate in documentary and film projects.
- Represented clothes stylist concerning a branding issue with sport league.
Related News & Insights
-
Recognized by New York Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) (2006-2007, 2009-2013, 2015-2021)
-
Named New York Area "Top Rated Lawyers" by New York Magazine (2012-2013)
-
Martindale-Hubbell's "AV" Peer Review Rating
-
Named to "Top 100" list by The National Black Lawyers
- Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health "Leadership Award" (2015)
-
American Bar Association
-
The National Black Lawyers
-
Lawyers Coordinating Committee (1989-2007)
-
The Urban Black Music Project, Founding Member (1993-2005)
-
The Field, Board Member (1993-1995)
Ivan is a labor and employment litigator with a head for business. He understands the high stakes of his clients’ employment law matters.
More About Ivan
Today’s employers need seasoned guidance as they navigate complex employment laws and regulations—and a finely honed edge in the courtroom should matters move to litigation. Ivan has extensive experience representing clients in employment discrimination cases, mainly in class and multiplaintiff cases of regional and national scope. He has managed numerous class action cases in matters of wage and hour compliance, disability and web access, as well as cases involving race, age, national origin, and gender discrimination.
Ivan practices traditional labor law, representing clients across a variety of industries, including education, health care, sports, entertainment, food service, hotel construction, maintenance, shipping, airline, trucking, engineering, and nonprofit. He has assisted clients with collective bargaining, contract and grievance arbitrations, litigation pertaining to unfair labor practices, and legal matters before the National Labor Relations Board.
In his entertainment law practice, Ivan represents producers, writers, directors, and artists in the music, television, and film industries—many of whom are Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees and Grammy Award winners. He represents institutional investors who invest in film and music projects, as well as entertainment and tech companies seeking to protect their intellectual property and licensing rights. Ivan has litigated numerous copyright and trademark infringement cases on behalf of distributors, producers, and writers.
Ivan practices traditional labor law, representing clients across a variety of industries, including education, health care, sports, entertainment, food service, hotel construction, maintenance, shipping, airline, trucking, engineering, and nonprofit. He has assisted clients with collective bargaining, contract and grievance arbitrations, litigation pertaining to unfair labor practices, and legal matters before the National Labor Relations Board.
In his entertainment law practice, Ivan represents producers, writers, directors, and artists in the music, television, and film industries—many of whom are Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees and Grammy Award winners. He represents institutional investors who invest in film and music projects, as well as entertainment and tech companies seeking to protect their intellectual property and licensing rights. Ivan has litigated numerous copyright and trademark infringement cases on behalf of distributors, producers, and writers.
- JD, Albany Law School of Union University
- BA, Tufts University
Economics
- New York
- US Supreme Court
- US Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- US District Court, Eastern District of New York
- US District Court, Southern District of New York
Related Services
- Successfully defended real estate development company against race discrimination claim.
- Successfully defended nonprofit organization against race and sexual harassment claims.
- Successfully represented a major restaurant chain concerning “web access” claim.
- Successfully represented a wealth management company concerning breach of restrictive covenants claim.
- Successfully represented real estate management company in sexual harassment matter.
- Provided investigative services concerning a potential race claim for opera company.
- Provided investigative services concerning sexual harassment case for law firm.
- Successfully represented an air filter company concerning unfair labor practices issues and labor negotiations.
- Successfully represented hospitals in labor negotiations.
- Represented a legendary comedian and civil rights activist’s estate concerning a documentary film on Showtime.
- Representing a legendary singer, actor, and civil rights activist’s estate in documentary and film projects.
- Represented clothes stylist concerning a branding issue with sport league.
Related News & Insights
-
Recognized by New York Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) (2006-2007, 2009-2013, 2015-2021)
-
Named New York Area "Top Rated Lawyers" by New York Magazine (2012-2013)
-
Martindale-Hubbell's "AV" Peer Review Rating
-
Named to "Top 100" list by The National Black Lawyers
- Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health "Leadership Award" (2015)
-
American Bar Association
-
The National Black Lawyers
-
Lawyers Coordinating Committee (1989-2007)
-
The Urban Black Music Project, Founding Member (1993-2005)
-
The Field, Board Member (1993-1995)