Cathy Smith, Gustafson Gluek PLLC

Cathy Smith, member and firm manager of Gustafson Gluek PLLC, has practiced complex litigation since 2005 and joined the firm in 2007. She became a member in 2012, served as co-chair of the firm’s consumer practice group since 2021, and was appointed firm manager effective January 1, 2025, bringing diversity to the leadership role while continuing the firm’s efforts to promote women into leadership positions.

Smith’s litigation practice focuses on complex antitrust and consumer protection class actions, particularly those involving difficult discovery and legal issues regarding foreign entity defendants. Fluent in Korean and English with basic skills in German, Japanese, and Chinese, her unique language abilities have proven invaluable in cases involving international defendants.

She has played pivotal roles in major cases including In re Lithium-Ion Batteries Antitrust Litigation, In re Optical Disk Drive Products Antitrust Litigation, In re Cathode Ray Tube Antitrust Litigation, and In re TFT-LCD Antitrust Litigation, all in the Northern District of California. Smith served as a key member of the trial team for the CRT Antitrust case.

Recently, she was appointed to the plaintiffs’ steering committee in In re Hershey Chocolate Litigation, representing consumers alleging deception regarding PFAS in product packaging. She also represents a class of consumers in In re Hard Disk Drive Suspension Assemblies Antitrust Litigation involving defendants from Japan, Thailand, China, and the United States.

Smith has served on the American Antitrust Institute’s Antitrust Enforcement Award Judging Committee since 2015 and maintains active membership in Minnesota Women Lawyers and the Federal Bar Association. She received the “Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award” in 2010 and was recognized as an Attorney of the Year in 2022 for pro bono work.

As firm manager, Smith has implemented a mentorship program for summer law clerks and holds monthly associate meetings. She continues the firm’s annual all-firm meeting covering litigation topics, administrative matters, and professional development. Twin Cities Diversity In Practice recognized her recent promotion, acknowledging her role as a trailblazer for women of color in legal leadership positions.