ouR lawyers

 Robert C. Baxter is among the most experienced and formidable trial attorney 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.