Smith, 56, a Republican who lost a bid for a third term to Democrat Jeff Merkley, is barred from lobbying his former colleagues for two years, but can offer strategic advice to clients.
Smith, who owns a frozen-foods business in Weston, Oregon, will spend at least two-thirds of his time at the firm. He also will serve on corporate and charitable boards.
Covington & Burling LLP is an international law firm with offices in Beijing, Brussels, London, New York, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, San Diego, and Washington, DC. It consistently ranks among the top 20 on The American Lawyer’s prestigious “A-List.”