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Riley Smith has experience in all phases of litigation, from pre-litigation dispute resolution through trial. As part of the commercial litigation practice group, Riley has defended against and prosecuted many claims, including fraud, breach of contract, economic interference, and defamation, on behalf of funds, founders, and entities across a number of business sectors. As part of the criminal and regulatory defense practice group, Riley has defended individuals and corporations in a wide variety of white collar matters, including those involving Securities Act and Exchange Act claims and Commodities Exchange Act claims.

Riley started his legal career clerking for the Honorable David S. Morales of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Prior to joining Waymaker, Riley was a litigation associate at another Los Angeles-based boutique.

At Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, Riley spent two years in the Juvenile Innocence and Fair Sentencing Clinic advocating for clients at parole board hearings and representing juvenile offenders in wrongful conviction cases.

  • Represented Avraham Eisenberg against criminal charges for allegedly manipulating a DeFi protocol. Following a 10-day jury trial, Waymaker moved for relief under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 29, arguing that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to sustain the convictions. The trial court agreed, entering a judgment of acquittal on the wire fraud charge and vacated the other two convictions based on lack of venue.

  • California Central District Civil Rights Pro Bono Panel
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Association of Business Trial Lawyers

Education

  • Loyola Law School, J.D.
  • Occidental College, B.A.

Bar Admissions

  • California

Court Admissions

  • Central District of California
  • Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals