Patrick Smith represents public and private employers in a broad spectrum of employment law matters, including employment discrimination, retaliation, wage and hour issues, FMLA, whistle-blower claims, defamation, and union related issues.

Patrick is an experienced litigator and trial lawyer. He regularly appears in state and federal trial courts throughout Iowa, as well as before the Iowa Supreme Court, Iowa Court of Appeals, and United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. He practices before administrative agencies with jurisdiction over employers, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Iowa Civil Rights Commission, and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Patrick litigates cases involving single plaintiffs, multiple plaintiffs, class actions, and collective actions.

Although a frequent litigator, one of Patrick’s goals is to help his clients avoid litigation. To that end, his practice includes consulting with employers on legal compliance, HR audits, drafting employment policies and handbooks, management training, and internal investigations. He is a frequent presenter on a wide range of employment law topics and publishes this blog.