Bernard W. Smalley
Bernard W. Smalley, Sr., a Shareholder at Anapol Schwartz, is known for his personable style, which allows him to represent his clients effectively, and in a spirit of cooperation. Trial judges and jurors also acknowledge the high quality of Mr. Smalley's cross-examination and his ability to persuade jurors during closing arguments.
Mr. Smalley concentrates his practice in the areas of medical negligence, pharmaceutical liability, defamation, class actions, products liability and other major personal injury matters. He received his Bachelor's degree from Temple University in 1971, and his law degree from Widener University School of Law in 1980. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Smalley was the Deputy Court Administrator for Civil Administration for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. He is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania.
Mr. Smalley has served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and currently sits on its Board of Governors. He has also served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Philadelphia Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association.
Mr. Smalley is the first African-American ever elected to serve as President of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association. He frequently lectures on trial techniques before national, state and local trial lawyer and bar associations.
In 2002, Mr. Smalley was awarded the Trailblazer Award by the Minority Caucus of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Also in 2002, the American Bar Association Tort and Insurance Practice Section awarded Mr. Smalley their annual Pursuit of Justice Award, and he was later cited in 2002 by the Legal Intelligencer as one of the 50 most influential minority attorneys in Philadelphia.
Mr. Smalley was recently elected by the Judges of the Philadelphia Court of Common Please to a lifetime appointment to the Philadelphia Board of City Trust, which oversees approximately three-quarters of a billion dollars in assets.
In 2003, Mr. Smalley was inducted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers as a Fellow. United States membership to the International Academy is limited to 500 members.
In 2004, Mr. Smalley became a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers after a strenuous examination process. Membership in this organization is limited to the top 5% of active trial lawyers in the United States.
