About Patrick Smith

Patrick Smith practices primarily in employment law and litigation, representing employers of all types and sizes before trial courts, appellate courts, and administrative agencies throughout the State of Iowa. He has represented local, national and international corporations, as well as public entities such as municipalities and school districts, against claims alleging unlawful discrimination under state and federal law, wage and hour law violations, unfair labor practices, Family and Medical Leave Act claims, defamation, wrongful discharge, civil rights violations, and other employment related claims.

In addition to litigation, Patrick’s practice includes consulting with employers on legal compliance, drafting employment policies and handbooks, management training, internal investigations, litigation avoidance, union related issues, and risk management. He is a frequent lecturer on various employment law topics to human resource professionals and attorneys.

Patrick is a Shareholder in the law firm Bradshaw, Fowler, Proctor & Fairgrave, P.C. in Des Moines, Iowa. During his fifteen plus years of experience, Smith has handled cases in every Iowa judicial district, the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa, the United States Court of Appeal for the Eighth Circuit, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Iowa civil Rights Commission, local human rights commissions, the Iowa Workers’ Compensation Commissioner, and U.S. Bankruptcy Courts.

Professional Associations

  • Charter Fellow, Litigation Counsel of American (Trial Lawyer Honor Society)
  • American Bar Association (Member, section of Labor and Employment Law)
  • Iowa State Bar Association
  • Defense Research Institute (Member, Employment Law Committee)
  • Iowa Defense Counsel Association

Education

  • Drake University, 1989
  • University of Iowa College of Law, 1993 (with high distinction)

Bar Admissions

  • Iowa, 1993
  • U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit