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Damian Smith has extensive experience representing international clients in the United States and U.S.-based clients in Asia. He has represented Japanese clients for over 20 years in the United States, and enjoys conducting all client contact, including written communications, in the Japanese language.

In his broader Asian experience, through living in Asia and serving for six years as International Legal Counsel for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Asia, Mr. Smith conducted legal business, selected, qualified, hired and managed legal counsel, and traveled extensively in 20 Asian countries, including Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

While in Asia, Mr. Smith's responsibilities included selection and establishment of appropriate legal entities for religious and humanitarian purposes; registration of the Church with governmental authorities; managing compliance with tax, exchange control and other financial matters; acquisition of residence permits or visas for missionaries or humanitarian workers; review of title and documentation of the purchase or lease of real property; drafting of architectural and construction contracts; qualification of charitable lending activities for the Church's Perpetual Education Fund; registration and qualification of humanitarian activities; compliance with labor laws pertaining to Church employees or independent contractors; management of governmental relations; protection of intellectual property rights; and resolution of disputes or claims.

Prior to his residence in Asia, Mr. Smith was Of Counsel with the Perkins Coie law firm in Seattle, Washington from 1991-1998, where he was Director of the Japan Business Practice Group. Representative transactions included negotiating and drafting joint venture or commercial agreements between U.S. clients and Japanese parties in such diverse areas as software distribution, licensing and localization; franchising of restaurants and body care products stores; e-commerce of US products in Japan; old age housing; employment and non-competition; mergers and acquisitions; intellectual property transfers or licenses involving pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and food or beverage additives; and other commercial matters. He has also provided general representation of Japanese clients in the U.S. and internationally in all aspects of legal matters including selection and establishment of legal entities, employment and labor, licensing or acquiring rights in intellectual property, product liability, environmental, trade, real estate and litigation or other dispute resolution.

Mr. Smith is asked to write and speak on topics of international interest, including seminars and presentations in the Japanese language.

Mr. Smith was listed in Utah Business Magazine's 2008 Legal Elite in international law.

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  NEWS & PUBLICATIONS

• "39 Parr Waddoups Lawyers Named As 2008 Legal Elite", Press Release, January 15, 2008
• "38 Parr Waddoups Lawyers Named As 2007 Legal Elite", Press Release, November 27, 2006
• "Joining Forces With Japan", Entrepreneur.com, September 2006

  SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

• Doing Business in China, June 2006