Maria D. Smith
About Maria D. Smith
Maria D. Smith serves as the Head of Excess Casualty Claims at AXIS Capital, where she has worked since 2022. With extensive experience in claims and regulatory compliance, she has held various legal positions across multiple organizations, including Nationwide and Murchison & Cumming, LLP.
Work at AXIS Capital
Maria D. Smith serves as the Head of Excess Casualty Claims at AXIS Capital since 2022. In this role, she utilizes her expertise in claims, underwriting, and regulatory compliance to lead the claims leadership team. Her responsibilities include mentoring and training staff during the hiring and recruitment process. Maria is recognized for her hands-on approach in delivering practical solutions that align with client objectives.
Previous Legal Experience
Prior to her current role, Maria held several positions in the legal field. She worked as Senior Litigation Counsel at AXIS Capital from 2020 to 2022. Before that, she was Counsel for Commercial Product Lines at Nationwide from 2018 to 2019 and served in various roles at Nationwide from 2013 to 2018. Her earlier experience includes positions as Associate Attorney at Murchison & Cumming, LLP and Fennemore Craig, P.C.
Education and Expertise
Maria D. Smith earned her Doctor of Law (JD) from Michigan State University College of Law, completing her studies from 2004 to 2007. She also holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) from Purdue University, where she studied from 1997 to 2001. Her educational background supports her expertise in claims management, regulatory compliance, and legal strategy development.
Achievements in Legal Strategy
Throughout her career, Maria has demonstrated a track record of driving high-stakes litigation to successful resolution. She has managed large-scale enterprise-wide projects from inception to completion and has developed strategies to mitigate legal and compliance risks. Her initiatives consistently create best practices that aim to reduce legal expenditures.