Our Practice

 Robert C. Baxter is among the most experienced and formidable trial attorneys in the New York Metropolitan area. Mr. Baxter is also admitted to the United States Supreme Court and various Federal Appellate Courts. From 1989 to 1995, Mr. Baxter served as senior trial attorney for two major defense firms in New York City.  In 1995, he left to form Baxter & Smith, P.C. Mr. Baxter has been involved in the defense of many construction accident cases including the March 15, 2008 crane collapse case. Also, he regularly lectures on a variety of topics involving the litigation and trial of complex torts. He is currently trial and appellate counsel to the State Insurance Fund of the State of New York for cases involving “grave injury” and has appeared on their behalf in the Court of Appeals, in the matter of Largo-Chiciaza v. Westchester Scaffold Equipment Corp. He previously served on the Executive Committee for the Torts, Insurance & Compensation Law (TICL) Section of the New York State Bar Association. Mr. Baxter lectures extensively for the New York State Bar Association and recently was a speaker at the Labor Law/Construction Accidents in New York – The Law and the Trial seminar where he conducted the cross examination of the plaintiff. He previously was a speaker at a seminar on Recent Developments in the Court of Appeals held in Killarney, Ireland. He also spoke at the New York State Bar Association’s 2002 Annual Meeting. He has lectured at the Buffalo Claims Association, and served as Moderator for their mock trial program at their 2003 Annual Convention. 

  Arthur Smith is an experienced trial lawyer in both state and federal courts in the areas of negligence, labor law, toxic torts, products, premises and automobile liability. Mr. Smith is admitted to the United States Supreme Court, various Federal Appellate Courts including the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as the state and federal courts in New York. He serves on the Executive Committee for the Torts, Insurance & Compensation Law Section of the New York State Bar Association. Additionally, Mr. Smith lectures extensively. Most recently, he served as Chair of the Torts, Insurance & Compensation Law (TICL) Section of the New York State Bar Association for their semi-annual meeting, which was held in Killarney, Ireland. Previously, he has served as the Chairperson of a New York State Bar Association Seminar on Labor Law and Construction Accidents, and as a speaker for the New York State Bar Association on topics including Construction Accidents, Premises Liability, Evidence, Trial Tactics, Insurance Coverage and Ethical Obligations of Counsel. Mr. Smith was also a lecturer on “Serious Injury “ and “Negotiation Strategy” at the Buffalo Claims Association’s (BCA); Premises Liability at the 2005 Annual Convention, served as “trial counsel” for the mock trial presentation at the BCA 2003 Convention, and lectured on “Grave Injury” at the 2002 B.C.A. Convention and on Labor Law at the B.C.A.’s 2000 Annual Convention. Mr. Smith addressed the 2007 New York State Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters Annual Convention and has lectured for the New York State Trial Lawyers Institute, The New York State Trial Lawyers, The Bar Association of the City of New York and served as judge at Fordham University’s Moot Court and Trial Advocacy contests. 

  Margot L. Ludlam, Esq   A 1994 graduate of Pace University Law School, Ms. Ludlam earned her B.A. from SUNY Binghamton in 1991. Prior to joining Baxter & Smith P.C.. Ms. Ludlam established herself as a noted attorney in the litigation and trial of complex and mass tort cases. She spent several years at a prominent Manhattan defense firm where she handled all facets of defense litigation, from inception to trial, in the areas of general negligence, medical malpractice, product liability and labor law. Thereafter, Ms. Ludlam was hired as in-house counsel at American International Group, Inc., where she managed litigation in the environmental claims/toxic tort unit on behalf of Fortune 500 companies. While at AIG, Ms Ludlam supervised outside counsel, performed comprehensive exposure risk assessments and analyzed multi-state insurance coverage issues. She evaluated the extent of the claimed contamination/exposure as a result of the insured’s activities and conducted roundtable presentations as necessary to prepare for trial or settlement of multi-million dollar of claims.  Thereafter, Ms. Ludlam joined another prominent defense firm where she maintained a broad base of complex civil defense matters on behalf of large-scale corporate clients and insurance carriers in the areas of products liability, general negligence, auto, and premises liability, with a concentration in toxic tort and asbestos defense. Ms. Ludlam has handled numerous mass-tort litigations. At Baxter & Smith PC,  Ms. Ludlam is involved in the litigation and trial of complex, high exposure matters involving product liability, toxic tort, construction, coverage and commercial issues. She is admitted to practice in the State of New York and the United States District Court, in the Eastern, Southern and Northern Districts. 

 A 1992 graduate of St. John’s University School of Law, Mr. Heffernan was a member of the Journal of Legal Commentary. Earlier in his career, Mr. Heffernan served as an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the New York City Law Department, Queens Tort Division, where he was involved in all phases of pre-trial litigation, resulting in his appointment as Deputy Assistant Chief of Legal Analysis Unit. Thereafter, Mr. Heffernan worked in the Trial Unit, gaining invaluable experience in the course of bringing more than 30 cases to verdict.
Mr. Heffernan served as a Senior Trial Attorney for the Nationwide Insurance Company, handling both commercial and personal lines litigation. While at Nationwide, he focused on the litigation, trial, and appeal of complex tort matters. Mr. Heffernan is a seasoned trial attorney well-regarded for his expertise in labor and construction law, toxic torts, premises liability, intentional torts, motor vehicle liability, declaratory judgment actions, and various coverage issues. 

  Louis B. Dingeldey Jr. received his undergraduate degree from St. Bonaventure University, summa cum laude, in 1999. He received his Juris Doctorate from Columbia University School of Law in 2002. Lou has established himself as an attorney capable of handling of variety of complex and significant cases in multiple areas of litigation, including commercial litigation, negligence and insurance defense, civil rights and class action defense, debtor & creditors matters and labor & employment matters. Lou is admitted to practice in all New York State courts, all federal courts in the Western and Northern Districts of New York and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Lou has defended and prosecuted matters on behalf of various municipal and private sector clientele. Lou is also an experienced and capable appellate practitioner, having prepared briefs in the First, Second and Fourth Departments of the New York Appellate Division as well as the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. 

 Bryan R. Forbes received his associate’s degree from Monroe Community College, where he was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa Honor society.  He then received his bachelor’s degree in History and Criminal Justice from Canisius College. Mr. Forbes received his Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo School of Law where his academic achievement was acknowledged, when he was awarded the ABA/BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Labor and Employment Law. While attending Law School, Mr. Forbes served as the Justice of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity.  He is duly licensed and admitted to practice law in all of the Courts of the State of New York.  Mr. Forbes began working for Baxter & Smith as a law clerk while enrolled in Law School and has gained valuable experience both before and after admittance, working with matters ranging from insurance defense, municipal defense, insurance coverage, labor law, employment law, tenant-landlord, unemployment insurance, and civil rights.  He has also assisted in many appeals submitted to both the Fourth and Second Departments of the Appellate Division. 

 Patrick H. Thompson received his bachelor’s degree in History from SUNY Oneonta, where he was a cum laude graduate in 2008. Mr. Thompson received his Juris Doctor from Albany Law School in 2016. While attending Albany Law, he was a member of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, a student mentor, and the Online Content Editor of the Albany Law Journal of Science and Technology.   Mr. Thompson gained practical experience before joining Baxter & Smith as a law clerk for a defense firm in Albany, New York; as a law clerk in the legal department for New York State School Administrators; as a legal intern with New York State Attorney General’s Office, Consumer Fraud Bureau; and as a legal intern in the Third Judicial District Administrative Judge’s Office.  
Mr. Thompson is admitted to practice in the State of New York. He handles the defense of cases involving premises liability, motor vehicle accidents, and general negligence.