Atlanta (May 18, 2022) – Seslee S. Smith, a partner in the Commercial Litigation Group of Morris, Manning & Martin, was appointed as the firm’s new general counsel. In addition to being the first woman to hold the post of GC, she is now one of the highest-ranking women at the firm.
In her new role, Smith oversees all legal matters directly related to the firm, including advising the managing partner and management committee on legal, insurance, employment and professionalism issues. She will also work with the Chief Financial Officer to review contracts with the firm’s outside vendors.
“Seslee is an extremely thorough attorney who excels both in the courts and community service,” said MMM Managing Partner Simon Malko. “We greatly value her voice in the management of the firm.”
Smith will continue to work in the Commercial Litigation Group while holding the GC post. She focuses her practice on insurance coverage, products liability and contractual matters. Since 2013, Smith has served as MMM’s ethics and professionalism counsel.
In addition, Smith helped create, and for many years chaired, MMM’s Women’s Initiative, which focuses on the recruitment, professional development and retention of women attorneys. Smith chaired the Women's Initiative from 2010-2018 and remains an active participant in, and champion of, MMM’s women and associates.
Her community work includes serving on the Board of Ahimsa House, a nonprofit organization offering services and assistance to survivors of domestic violence and their pets in Georgia.
Honors and rankings include being named a National Women in Law - Transformative Woman Leader by Corporate Counsel Magazine in 2018. She has been ranked several years in a row by The Best Lawyers in America for Product Liability Litigation for defendants. She has also been named to Super Lawyers, Products Liability.
Smith succeeds the previous GC, Jeff Douglass, who now heads the firm’s Commercial Litigation Practice.
About Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP
Morris, Manning & Martin (www.mmmlaw.com) is an Am Law 200 law firm with national and international reach. We dedicate ourselves to the constant pursuit of our clients’ success. To provide our clients with optimal value, we combine market-leading legal services with a total understanding of their needs to maximize effectiveness, efficiency and opportunity. MMM enjoys national prominence for its real estate, corporate, litigation, technology, healthcare, intellectual property, capital markets, environmental, international trade, and insurance practices. A Mansfield 4.0-certified firm, MMM has offices in Atlanta, Raleigh-Durham, Savannah and Washington, D.C.
Media Contact for MMM: Terri Thornton, (404) 932-4347, Terri@TerriThornton.com
