Todd A. Smith Awarded Leonard M. Ring Lifetime Achievement Award

TODD A. SMITH will be awarded the prestigious Leonard M. Ring Lifetime Achievement Award at the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association’s (ITLA) annual convention on Friday, June 5, 2026. The convention will be held at the Sheraton Grand in Chicago, Illinois.

The criteria for the award are as follows:

This award is given annually to someone selected by a committee appointed by the president. The recipient is someone who has devoted, as Leonard did, a substantial part of their life and their practice to ITLA, someone who has done more than is called for. Someone who has the standards of Leonard, the work ethics of Leonard and the commitment to ITLA that Leonard had. At the same time, it keeps alive the memory of Leonard Ring.

Todd Smith, a founding partner of Smith LaCien LLP in Chicago, has received justice for his clients in various types of cases including aviation, trucking, medical malpractice, personal injury, product liability, and professional negligence.

Smith received his bachelor’s degree from Kansas University, his master’s degree in business administration at Northwestern University and his J.D. at Loyola University of Chicago.

Smith began his career as an assistant Cook County Public Defender representing indigent defendants in a full range of felony matters.  He joined Philip H. Corboy in civil trial practice in 1980 and became a partner of the Corboy & Demetrio firm in 1990.  In 1993, he joined Joseph A. Power, Jr., and Larry R. Rogers, Sr., both past presidents of ITLA, to form the firm Power, Rogers & Smith. He left the firm to start Smith LaCien LLP with Brian LaCien in May of 2020.

His extensive bar leadership includes serving as president of several leading bar associations, including ITLA, the Illinois State Bar Association, and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (now American Association for Justice - AAJ).  Smith also is an elected member of several professional organizations including the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Society of Barristers, and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.

In 2005 he was invited to membership in The Inner Circle of Advocates, a group limited to 100 of the best trial lawyers in America.

Smith has won numerous awards for his accomplishments, professionalism, and altruism, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from AAJ and their Champion of Justice Award.  He is also a past recipient of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Distinguished Award of Excellence, and the Loyola University Chicago School of Law’s Medal of Excellence. He has been featured in national, local, and legal publications, including the New York Times, USA Today, Chicago magazine, Chicago Tribune, Crain’s Chicago Business, Chicago Lawyer magazine, and the recipient of that publication’s Person of the Year Award in 1998.  He has been regularly listed in Illinois Leading Lawyers top 10, as well as Super Lawyers (Illinois) top 10 and the Best Lawyers in America publication for over 30 years.

“I’m honored to receive this prestigious award. I knew Leonard Ring – Leonard was an extraordinary lawyer and leader of the trial bar, both in Illinois and nationally. To be recognized in association with his leadership and role in the advancement of civil justice rights for all, is indeed humbling.”

Smith is married to Marcia Friedl-Smith, also a Loyola Law School graduate, and former Assistant Attorney General.  They have 2 children, Ben and Grace. He is an avid sports enthusiast and a lifelong supporter of the Chicago Cubs and Bears. 

Past Leonard M. Ring Lifetime Achievement Award recipients include: Jon G. Carlson, Rex Carr, Robert A. Clifford, Kevin J. Conway, John D. Cooney, Robert J. Cooney, Philip H. Corboy, George J. Cullen, Joseph R. Curcio, David A. Decker, Thomas A. Demetrio, James Thomas Demos, Geoffrey L. Gifford, Randy L. Gori, William J. Harte, Thomas Q. Keefe, Jr., Thomas F. Londrigan, Philip F. Maher, Nicholas J. Motherway, Nat P. Ozmon, Bruce R. Pfaff, Eugene I. Pavalon, John G. Phillips, Joseph A. Power, Jr., Kim E. Presbrey, Anthony C. Raccuglia, Curt N. Rodin, Larry R. Rogers, Sr.; Patrick A. Salvi and Michael P. Schostok.