Dorian J. Smith

Dorian J. Smith is a Senior Associate in the Public Law Group at Scarinci Hollenbeck, bringing more than a decade of legal experience spanning state government, municipal law, and employment litigation. Based in the firm’s Little Falls office, Dorian advises public entities and private clients on the complex regulatory, governance, and labor matters that define New Jersey’s public sector landscape.

Dorian joins the firm from the Office of Governor Phil Murphy, where he served as Senior Counsel in the Authorities Unit from May 2022 through January 2026. In that role, he advised the Governor and the Director of the Authorities Unit on oversight and strategic policy for twelve independent state authorities, boards, and commissions. His work touched nearly every dimension of state government operations, from public procurement and regulatory review to personnel, governance, and compliance issues affecting agency leadership. He also collaborated with attorneys and government professionals on signature initiatives, including efforts to restore streetlights in Atlantic City, address local food insecurity, and expand solar energy infrastructure across the state.

Earlier in his career, Dorian served as Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Newark Law Department, where he represented the City in a wide range of labor and employment disputes. His practice included EEOC matters, administrative trials, arbitration, proceedings before the Public Employee Relations Commission, and appellate litigation. He handled disciplinary proceedings, discrimination claims, union contract disputes, and internal investigations, and successfully defended Newark’s termination of a police officer accused of retaliatory misconduct on appeal.

Before entering public service, Dorian was an associate at a New Jersey law firm, where he represented commercial property owners and investors in acquisition, leasing, and property management matters, and conducted due diligence and risk analysis for prospective commercial transactions. He began his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Greta Gooden Brown, P.J.F.P., in Paterson, supporting proceedings in juvenile, domestic violence, and weapons forfeiture matters while mediating small claims, family law, and landlord/tenant disputes. Prior to clerking, Dorian served as Law and Policy Coordinator at The Citizens Campaign, where he developed a municipal best practices database, drafted model ordinances, and provided legislative analysis to community leaders and elected officials.

Dorian earned his J.D. from Rutgers School of Law in Newark in 2012, where he served on the Moot Court Board, competed on the Jessup International Law Moot Court Team and in the Baker Trial Competition, participated in the Special Education Law Clinic, and served as Vice President of the International Law Society. He received his B.A. in Sociology from Hampton University in 2008.

Active in the legal and civic community, Dorian serves as Advocacy Chair for the Urban League of Bergen County Young Professionals and is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association. Outside the practice of law, he is a USA Boxing Level II Official.

Dorian is admitted to practice in New Jersey and New York.