Member
Litigation
J.D. Wake Forest University, Cum Laude
B.A. Transylvania University, Cum Laude
Office:
Lexington, KY
(859) 219-8239
Biography
Few people have as much pride in a place as Andrew Smith has for his home state of Kentucky. A Lexington native, it only took three years of living out of state to attend Wake Forest University School of Law for Andrew to realize he was meant to live and stay in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Andrew is proud to be able to use his legal skills to help Kentucky businesses—whether it be a small, family-owned sole proprietorship, a Fortune 500 company operating in Kentucky, or anything in between. Andrew offers a unique blend of services to his corporate clients because he not only handles complex litigation in varied forums, but he also frequently advises clients with respect to corporate governance. In this way, he helps protect his clients’ legal position on the front-end and can defend them if litigation ensues.
Andrew understands that litigation can oftentimes be unpleasant, and he takes on that burden so that his clients can focus on running their businesses. Andrew’s litigation acumen has not gone unnoticed. Opposing parties have referred him future clients, his colleagues ask him to prepare them for oral arguments, and one former opposing counsel even uses a brief Andrew wrote to train new attorneys. Andrew’s best corporate counsel services don’t stop at answering difficult questions from his most sophisticated clients, he is happy to help new entrepreneurs understand what questions to ask. Now, Andrew is offering those same excellent legal services to businesses involved in Kentucky’s renewable energy industry. As a member of the EMLF Renewable Energy Task Force, Andrew is at the forefront of this new and changing legal scene.
Andrew did not just move back to Kentucky to work. He moved back because it is where his family and home will always be. When Andrew is not in the office, you can find him at the Lexington Farmers Market with his family on Saturday mornings, cheering on the Cats at Commonwealth Stadium, kayaking the Forks of the Elkhorn, or duck hunting in a blind in Hickman. Andrew has devoted much of his free time to improving his neighborhood and community. He has served as the President of the Ashland Neighborhood Association and a board member of the Ashland Park Neighborhood Association. Andrew has used his minor in Lexington History (yes, that was an ad hoc option at Transylvania University), to serve on the LexHistory Talks! Committee for the Lexington History Museum, bringing speakers to discuss everything from the Bluegrass’ unique woodland pastures to the underground railroad. Andrew also served as the President of the Central Kentucky Ducks Unlimited for several years and continues to be an avid supporter of that organization.
Memberships & Awards
Professional
Kentucky Bar AssociationOrder of the CoifMember, Central Kentucky American Inns of CourtEditorial Staff, Wake Forest Law ReviewMember, Wake Forest Moot Court BoardInternational Finalist, International Environmental Law Moot Court CompetitionCALI Award: Contracts II, Toxic Torts
Key Experience
Secured, and successfully defended on appeal, judgment on behalf of a mine operator against $23,000,000 claim of mine subsidence brought by major big box retailer in Hopkins Circuit Court
Secured judgment on behalf of general contractor in connection with $68,000,000+ development of major historic building in Louisville’s urban core
Obtained declaratory judgment for clients defeating onerous restrictive covenants, allowing for clients to open a new business; successfully defended declaratory judgment at the Kentucky Court of Appeals
Know-How
Work Experience
2019 Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
2013-2019 Miller Edwards Rambicure PLLC
2012 Summer Associate, Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP
2011 Law Clerk, The Honorable Vanessa Dickson
2013-2019 Miller Edwards Rambicure PLLC
2012 Summer Associate, Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP
2011 Law Clerk, The Honorable Vanessa Dickson