ROBERT C. BAXTER
Robert C. Baxter is among the most experienced and formidable trial attorneys in the New York Metropolitan area. Mr. Baxter is also admitted to the United States Supreme Court and various Federal Appellate Courts. From 1989 to 1995, Mr. Baxter served as senior trial attorney for two major defense firms in New York City.  In 1995, he left to form Baxter & Smith, P.C.; the predecessor firm to Baxter Smith & Shapiro P.C. Mr. Baxter has been involved in the defense of many construction accident cases including the March 15, 2008 crane collapse case. Also, he regularly lectures on a variety of topics involving the litigation and trial of complex torts. He is currently trial and appellate counsel to the State Insurance Fund of the State of New York for cases involving "grave injury" and has appeared on their behalf in the Court of Appeals, in the matter of Largo-Chiciaza v. Westchester Scaffold Equipment Corp. He previously served on the Executive Committee for the Torts, Insurance & Compensation Law (TICL) Section of the New York State Bar Association. Mr. Baxter lectures extensively for the New York State Bar Association and recently was a speaker at the Labor Law/Construction Accidents in New York - The Law and the Trial seminar where he conducted the cross examination of the plaintiff. He previously was a speaker at a seminar on Recent Developments in the Court of Appeals held in Killarney, Ireland. He also spoke at the New York State Bar Association's 2002 Annual Meeting. He has lectured at the Buffalo Claims Association, and served as Moderator for their mock trial program at their 2003 Annual Convention.

ARTHUR J. SMITH
Arthur Smith is an experienced trial lawyer in both state and federal courts in the areas of negligence, labor law, toxic torts, products, premises and automobile liability. Mr. Smith is admitted to the United States Supreme Court, various Federal Appellate Courts including the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as the state and federal courts in New York. He serves on the Executive Committee for the Torts, Insurance & Compensation Law Section of the New York State Bar Association. Additionally, Mr. Smith lectures extensively. Most recently, he served as Chair of the Torts, Insurance & Compensation Law (TICL) Section of the New York State Bar Association for their semi-annual meeting, which was held in Killarney, Ireland. Previously, he has served as the Chairperson of a New York State Bar Association Seminar on Labor Law and Construction Accidents, and as a speaker for the New York State Bar Association on topics including Construction Accidents, Premises Liability, Evidence, Trial Tactics, Insurance Coverage and Ethical Obligations of Counsel. Mr. Smith was also a lecturer on “Serious Injury “ and “Negotiation Strategy” at the Buffalo Claims Association's (BCA); Premises Liability at the 2005 Annual Convention, served as “trial counsel” for the mock trial presentation at the BCA 2003 Convention, and lectured on “Grave Injury” at the 2002 B.C.A. Convention and on Labor Law at the B.C.A.'s 2000 Annual Convention. Mr. Smith addressed the 2007 New York State Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters Annual Convention and has lectured for the New York State Trial Lawyers Institute, The New York State Trial Lawyers, The Bar Association of the City of New York and served as judge at Fordham University’s Moot Court and Trial Advocacy contests.

SIM R. SHAPIRO
A 1993 graduate of Boston University School of Law, Mr. Shapiro concentrates his work in the areas of complex tort defense, municipal liability, labor negotiations, employment discrimination and appellate advocacy. He is admitted to both state and federal courts in New York and has significant trial experience.
Mr. Shapiro is the Partner in charge of the firm's Appellate Unit. He has briefed and argued matters involving issues of contractual indemnification, grave injury, product liability and general negligence. In addition to trying cases, Mr. Shapiro works closely with the firm’s other attorneys at the trial level lending pro-active assistance in the form of briefs and memorandum dealing with issues that are likely to be raised on appeal. Mr. Shapiro has appeared in all Appellate Courts in the State, including the Court of Appeals. He has nearly 50 reported appellate cases, including the landmark Court of Appeals decision of Boles v. The Dormer Giant, Inc., 4 N.Y.3d 235, 825 N.E.2d 590, 792 N.Y.S.2d 375 (2005)
Mr. Shapiro has lectured and written extensively for legal organizations including the New York State Bar Association, New York Academy of Trial Lawyers and the New York State Trial Lawyers Institute.

DENNIS S. HEFFERNAN
A 1992 graduate of St. John’s University School of Law, Mr. Heffernan was a member of the Journal of Legal Commentary. Earlier in his career, Mr. Heffernan’s served as an Assistant Corporation Counsel for New York City Law Department, Queens Tort Division, where he was involved in all phases of pre-trial litigation resulting in his appointment as Deputy Assistant Chief of Legal Analysis Unit. Thereafter, Mr. Heffernan worked in the Trial Unit and gained invaluable experience in the course of bringing more than 30 cases to verdict.
Mr. Heffernan served as a Senior Trial Attorney for the Nationwide Insurance Company handling both commercial and personal lines litigation. While at Nationwide he focused upon the litigation, trial and appeal of complex tort matters. Mr. Heffernan is a seasoned trial attorney well regarded for his expertise in labor and construction law, toxic torts, premises liability, intentional torts and motor vehicle liability as well as declaratory judgment actions and various coverage issues.

WILLIAM BOLTREK, III
A 2000 graduate of Quinnipiac University School of Law, Mr. Boltrek began his career as an Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn where he gained invaluable trial experience. Mr. Boltrek has experience in office of General Counsel of one of the nation’s largest weapons manufacturers where he assisted in the defense of class action product liability suits. Mr. Boltrek has also worked for the Corporation Counsel of New York City in the Torts/Housing Authority Unit. He is admitted to practice in the State Courts of New York. At BSS, Mr. Boltrek is responsible for handling significant defense cases involving product liability, property damage, construction and Labor Law, premises and automobile liability.