Harold P. (Peter) Smith’s practice emphasizes general commercial litigation, dispute resolution, construction litigation, real estate litigation, water rights, land use, religious freedom, and real estate development. Mr. Smith also offers private mediation services. Before founding his own firm, Mr. Smith co-founded the firms of Stein & Smith and Stein, Smith, Rudser & Cohen. Mr. Smith began his legal career as a Deputy District Attorney in Alameda County, where he conducted more than 20 jury trials and well over 100 preliminary hearings on a wide variety of criminal matters. Mr. Smith also served as counsel to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee of the California State Legislature.
Mr. Smith serves on the Head Royce School Board of Trustees, and assisted the school in its recent $27,000,000 construction of new facilities in phase one of its Master Plan. Previously, he served on the Oakland Planning Commission, the Oakland General Plan Congress, the Task Force on Community Restoration and Emergency Preparedness, and the University-Oakland Metropolitan Forum Task Force on Downtown Redevelopment.
Mr. Smith has served as a faculty member for the Stanford Law School Advocacy Skills Workshop and as a panelist and commentator on transit-oriented development, green technology and planning, and economic development issues. Mr. Smith was admitted to practice law in California in 1986. He received his A.B. degree in Economics from Harvard University in 1982, and his J.D. degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1986. Mr. Smith is a member of the Alameda County Bar Association and the State Bar of California. He is admitted to practice before all trial and appellate courts in the State of California and the United States District Courts for the Northern and Eastern Federal Districts of California. At Dhillon & Smith, Mr. Smith has handled several jury trials and complex commercial arbitrations in a wide variety of matters.
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Experience:
- Law Offices of Harold P. Smith (Oakland)
- Partner, Stein, Smith, Rudser & Cohen LLP (Oakland)
- Partner, Stein & Smith (Oakland)
- Senior Associate, Birka-White & Stein (Oakland)
- Counsel, California State Legislature, Joint Legislative Audit Committee (Sacramento, Oakland)
- Deputy District Attorney, Alameda County District Attorney (Oakland)
Education:
- Harvard University, A.B. Economics
- University of San Francisco, J.D.
Areas of Expertise:
- Land Use
- Real Estate Development and Litigation
- Dispute Resolution and Private Mediation
- Green Building and Technology
- Facilities Development and Construction
- Water Rights
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction
Selected Publications:
| An Attorney Looks At Downtown Development | Oakland Business Review | 1999 | |
| The Downtown Revitalization Plan | Focus on Business, Oakland Chamber of Commerce | 1994 |
| Are You Covered For Your Contractor’s Mistake? | Alameda County Apartment Owners News Magazine | 1992 | |
| Oakland Should Consider Mixed-Use Projects Downtown | “Counterpoint”, Oakland Tribune Editorial Page | 1992 |
Representative Speaking Engagements:
| Advocacy Skills Workshop | Stanford Law School | January, 1999 | |
| Balancing Regulations and Incentives: Transit-Friendly Development | Rail~Volution, Panelist (Portland, Oregon) | September, 1998 |
| Working With Business Groups, Chambers and CBOS to Achieve Economic Development | League of California Cities, Economic Development Conference (Monterey, CA) | August, 1998 |
Civic Leadership:
- Advisor, Estuary Plan Advisory Committee (Oakland; 1997-1998)
- Chair, General Plan Congress (Oakland; 1993-1998)
- Planning Commissioner & Chair Commissioner, City of Oakland (1991-1996))
- Advisor, Metropolitan Task Force on Downtown Redevelopment (1992-1993)
- Advisor, Coliseum Redevelopment Advisory Committee (1992-2000)
- Board Member, Oakland Commerce Corporation (1992-2000)
Certificates:
- “Mediation and Conflict Resolution”. University of California, Berkeley – University Extension. 2001