DeMaurice Smith, Head of NFL Players Association, to Discuss Lockout and Negotiations With the National Football League at National Press Club

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May 23, 2011, 12:30 ET

Smith will be joined by NFL players who have been affected by the lockout at May 27 luncheon

WASHINGTON, May 23, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- DeMaurice "De" Smith, Executive Director of the National Football League Players Association, will discuss recent labor negotiations between the NFL and its players at a National Press Club Speakers Luncheon on May 27. Mr. Smith will be joined by NFL players who have been affected by the lockout, which began on March 11.

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Mr. Smith was elected unanimously by a board of active player representatives on March 16, 2009. Prior to his election, he was a trial lawyer and litigation partner in the Washington, DC offices of law firms Patton Boggs, LLP and Latham & Watkins LLP. In private practice, he represented Fortune 500 companies in criminal and complex civil cases, compliance matters, and internal investigations. He has argued numerous cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. Mr. Smith previously served as Counsel to then-Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder in the U.S. Department of Justice before entering private practice. His duties revolved around national security issues, congressional relations, and DOJ budget and finance allocation. He served in the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia for ten years where he held senior positions in the Violent Crime and Transnational and Major Crime Sections. He prosecuted more than 80 jury trials and handled some of the most significant homicide, narcotics and white collar investigations in the history of that office.

The May 27 Press Club luncheon will begin promptly at 12:30 p.m. Remarks by Smith will begin at 1:00 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session. Advance reservations should be made through (202) 662-7501 or [email protected]. Of luncheon admission is $18 for National Press Club members, $29 for their guests, and $36 for the general public. Tickets must be purchased at time of reservation.

National Press Club Luncheons are webcast live on press.org. Follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #NPCLunch, or on Facebook at (facebook.com/PressClubDC) and Twitter (@PressClubDC). Submit questions for speakers in advance and during the live event by sending them to @QNPCLunch on Twitter. Or email a question in advance, type SMITH in the subject line and send to [email protected] before 10 a.m. on May 27.

The Press Club is on the 13th floor, 529 14th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. Credentialed press may cover this event.

About the National Press Club the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists with more than 3,400 members worldwide representing every major news organization. More than 250,000 people visit the Club each year to attend more than 2,000 events. The Club was founded in 1908 and is on the web at press.org.

SOURCE National Press Club