Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC
Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC is a plaintiff-side employment and civil rights law firm founded in 1995, representing individual employees in sexual harassment, workplace discrimination, wrongful termination, and wage matters on a contingency fee basis across eight U.S. cities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC does
Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC is a plaintiff-side employment and civil rights law firm founded in 1995 by Derek T. Smith, specializing in sexual harassment, employment discrimination, wrongful termination, wage and hour, whistleblower, retaliation, and class action matters on behalf of individual employees. The firm operates exclusively on a contingency fee basis under a 'No Win, No Fee' structure, with free 24/7 consultations serving as the primary intake channel, and earns revenue as a percentage of settlements or verdicts recovered. The practice is delivered through eight U.S. offices spanning New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Washington DC, with California matters routed through a structurally separate entity, Derek Smith Law Group, LLP.
The firm's core service portfolio is organized around protected-class discrimination claims (race, age, gender, disability, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, pregnancy), sexual harassment across workplace, educational, and public settings, and adjacent practice areas including rape and sexual assault representation, child sexual abuse claims (including Child Victims Act matters), student harassment, and EEOC administrative representation. There is no proprietary technology platform; the firm relies on standard case management, client communication, and legal research tools. Client acquisition is driven by content marketing, active social media presence, earned media from high-profile verdicts (CBS This Morning, NY Times), and a nationwide referral network of partner firms. The firm has cumulatively recovered over $500 million for clients, including a $16M sexual assault settlement, a $15M child sexual abuse verdict, and what is described as the largest emotional distress award ever upheld in a U.S. employment law case.
The firm is founder-owned, self-funded through operations with no venture capital or institutional investment, and has maintained 12+ consecutive years of Best Lawyers/US News & World Report recognition. Headcount is reported in the 11-50 range, spanning partners, managing attorneys, and specialized former prosecutors. Ownership and jurisdictional structure (PLLC for the primary entity, LLP for California) suggest deliberate legal-risk segregation rather than a growth-driven M&A posture. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.
Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC
- Legal name
- Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC
- Website
- https://discriminationandsexualharassmentlawyers.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC is a plaintiff-side employment and civil rights law firm founded in 1995, representing individual employees in sexual harassment, workplace discrimination, wrongful termination, and wage matters on a contingency fee basis across eight U.S. cities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Plaintiff-Side Employment Law Services
- NAICS
- Legal Services (5411), Offices of Lawyers (54111), Other Legal Services (54119)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Employment & Labor Law (BPAHAAAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Civil Liberties & Constitutional Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAA)
Keywords
Where Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices9 records
Markets served
Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Contingency Fee Legal Services: The firm operates on a contingency fee basis where clients pay nothing unless the firm wins their case. They receive a percentage of the settlement or verdict secured. This is standard for plaintiff-side employment and discrimination law firms.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Contingency Fee - No Win, No Fee |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC is a plaintiff-side employment and civil rights law firm that represents individual employees in workplace discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, wage and hour, whistleblower, retaliation, and class action matters. The firm provides direct legal representation on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients pay no fees unless the firm secures a settlement or verdict on their behalf.
Product overview
Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC is a specialized employment and civil rights law firm offering legal services for workplace discrimination, harassment, and related matters. The firm operates as a unified legal practice with multiple office locations (New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Washington DC) providing direct legal representation services rather than a software platform. The core service portfolio includes sexual harassment legal representation, employment discrimination claims (covering protected classes such as race, age, gender, disability, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, pregnancy), wrongful termination, wage and hour disputes (including unpaid overtime and tip violations), whistleblower protection, class action litigation, and leave/accommodation matters. Additional practice areas include rape and sexual assault victim representation, child sexual abuse cases, student harassment, and EEOC administrative representation. The firm operates on a contingency fee basis ('No Win, No Fee') and emphasizes free initial consultations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sexual Harassment Legal Services Legal representation for victims of sexual harassment in workplace, public spaces, and educational settings, including hostile work environment claims, quid pro quo cases, and harassment by supervisors, coworkers, or non-employees.
- Employment Discrimination Legal Services Legal representation for discrimination based on protected classes including race, age, gender, disability, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, pregnancy, and genetic information.
- Wrongful Termination Legal Services Legal representation for employees who have been unlawfully terminated based on discrimination, retaliation, or other illegal reasons.
- Wage and Hour Legal Services Legal representation for unpaid wages, unpaid overtime, tip pooling violations, and wage inequality based on gender under the Equal Pay Act.
- Whistleblower Legal Services Legal representation for employees who report illegal employer activities and face retaliation as a result.
- Class Action Litigation Group legal representation for multiple employees facing similar workplace violations and discrimination.
- Leave and Accommodation Services Legal representation for Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) violations, reasonable workplace accommodations, religious accommodations, and disability accommodations.
- Retaliation Legal Services Legal representation for employees who face workplace retaliation after reporting discrimination, harassment, or illegal activities.
- Rape and Sexual Assault Legal Services Legal representation for victims of rape and sexual assault, including cases in workplace, educational, and public settings.
- Child Sexual Abuse Legal Services Legal representation for victims of child sexual abuse, including clergy sex abuse cases and claims under the Child Victims Act.
- Student Sexual Harassment Legal Services Legal representation for students facing sexual harassment in educational institutions.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $500 Million recovered in settlements and verdicts for clients
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA)minorAccreditation and membership in NELA, demonstrating commitment to plaintiff-side employment law advocacy.
- American Association for JusticeminorMembership in AAJ, supporting access to justice for victims of civil injustice.
- State Bar Associations (NY, NJ, FL, PA)minorAttorney licensing and good standing with state bar associations in New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Pennsylvania where they are authorized to practice law.
- Referral Network of Law Firms NationwideminorThe firm may refer prospective clients to other law firms located throughout the country who form relationships with DSLG and are experienced in handling such cases. DSLG may also affiliate with other legal counsel located throughout the country to provide legal representation.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wigdor LLP: NYC-based plaintiff-side employment and civil rights law firm representing victims of workplace discrimination, sexual harassment, and wage violations. Highly comparable in practice area, contingency model, target clientele, and high-profile case approach.
- Phillips & Associates PLLC: NYC employment discrimination and sexual harassment firm with contingency-fee model. Direct competitor for plaintiff-side employment matters in the same NY/NJ metro market as Derek Smith Law Group.
- Sanford Heisler Sharp LLP: National plaintiff-side employment, civil rights, and class action firm with offices in NY, DC, and other major metros. Comparable in targeting high-value employment discrimination, harassment, and wage cases via contingency representation.
- Outten & Golden LLP: Plaintiff-side employment law firm exclusively representing employees in discrimination, harassment, and wage matters. Direct competitor in the NYC employment bar with similar contingency model and practice focus.
- Levy Konigsberg LLP: Plaintiff-side firm with strong employment discrimination and civil rights practice, plus mass tort work. Comparable in contingency-based representation of employee victims and overlapping practice area in sexual abuse and workplace claims.
- HKM Employment Attorneys LLP: Plaintiff employment law firm focused on representing employees in discrimination, harassment, and wage matters. Closely aligned business model (contingency, employee-only representation) and overlapping client base with DSLG.
Emerging players
- Joseph A. Habba & Associates: Plaintiff-side employment and civil rights firm with similar focus on workplace discrimination and sexual harassment matters. Smaller in scale and geographic reach than DSLG, but overlapping in client segment and case type.
- Nisar Law Group: Plaintiff-side employment law firm handling discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation cases. Comparable in contingency-fee model and employee-victim focus, with a smaller geographic footprint than DSLG.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC social profiles
Digital presenceDerek Smith Law Group, PLLC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC
What does Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC do?
Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC is a plaintiff-side employment and civil rights law firm that represents individual employees in workplace discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, wage and hour, whistleblower, retaliation, and class action matters. The firm provides direct legal representation on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients pay no fees unless the firm secures a settlement or verdict on their behalf.
Is Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC a public or private company?
Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC founded?
Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC based?
Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC make money?
One revenue line is on record: contingency Fee Legal Services.
Who are Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wigdor LLP, Phillips & Associates PLLC, Sanford Heisler Sharp LLP, Outten & Golden LLP, Levy Konigsberg LLP and HKM Employment Attorneys LLP. Emerging players are Joseph A. Habba & Associates and Nisar Law Group.
Does Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC have an API?
No public API is recorded for Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC.
What industry is Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC in?
Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC's product category is Plaintiff-Side Employment Law Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAAAD, Employment & Labor Law, with a secondary code of BPAGAFAA, Civil Liberties & Constitutional Rights Advocacy. Its NAICS code is 5411 and its SIC code is 8111.