Matt Smith joined the firm in Q1 of 2023 as Of Counsel and is primarily engaged in business and land disputes, first and third party insurance claims, and estate planning litigation. An artful litigator that thrives in the crossfire, Matt has guided a diverse roster of clients from California to Virginia through contentious and hostile litigation. In addition to lecturing to law classes at Loyola, Tulane, and LSU, he has presented CLE on disaster planning and business continuity plans, and is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association Transitioning Lawyers Committee. In law school he was awarded the Gillis Long Public Service Award. After law school he was recognized as Young Alumnus of the Year for his service to the Crescent City Cafe. Prior to practicing law he coordinated state congressional campaigns, lobbied for infrastructure improvement, ran cattle, and caught salmon. Matt thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2010 and there learned his core philosophy to the practice of law: slow to speak; quick to listen.
Education:
BA, Transylvania University, Lexington, Kentucky, 2004
JD, Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, 2015
Bar Admissions:
Louisiana, 2015
Admitted to Practice:
All Louisiana State Courts, 2015
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, 2016
United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, 2023
Past and Present Professional Memberships:
Louisiana State Bar Association
New Orleans Bar Association
New Orleans Federal Bar Association
Shreveport Bar Association
Louisiana Association for Justice
A.P. Tureaud Inn of Court
Harry V. Booth – Judge Henry A. Politz Inn of Court
Louisiana State Bar Association Leadership Class, 2021
Areas of Practice:
Business disputes and formation
Contract disputes and formation
Land and property disputes
Personal injury and workers compensation
Estate planning services and disputes