James B. Smith, Jr.

Member


Providing a steady and experienced hand, sound and thoughtful counsel, and a personal commitment to his clients' success, Jamie Smith has been an integral and trusted partner for countless businesses throughout his distinguished career. Whether serving as outside general counsel, assisting with specific matters, or finding the best resources to meet his clients' needs, Jamie is the consummate business lawyer.

Whether representing an early-stage company or a well-established and growing enterprise, Jamie delivers the kind of business insights and legal guidance that only come from experience.

And Jamie has seen it all.

His clients appreciate that he is a hard worker and easy to work with, that he is always accessible and responsive, and that he does everything necessary to protect and advance their interests while remaining cognizant of their bottom lines.

Jamie's clients span a broad spectrum of industries, including entrepreneurs, family businesses, public and privately-held companies, and nonprofit corporations. He provides counsel on almost every conceivable long-term or day-to-day issue business owners face, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, succession planning, crisis management, forming and financing start-up and early-stage companies, and implementing strategic business initiatives.

Recognizing that business is also often very personal, Jamie finds solutions to business disputes that minimize acrimony and disruption. Having trained at Pepperdine University's prestigious Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, he has a passion for resolving conflicts and is available to mediate contested business and family "business" matters.

The legal profession is, at its heart, a service industry. I believe you can't serve your clients in the manner they deserve if you don't truly care about them and invest yourself in their success.
      • The University of Texas School of Law, J.D., with honors, 1976
      • The University of Texas at Austin, B.A., Plan II, with high honors, 1973
  • Bar Admissions

    • Texas, 1976
  • Court Admissions

    • United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit
    • United States District Court Northern, Southern, Western and Eastern Districts of Texas
    • Named by Best Lawyers®  as San Antonio Corporate Law  "Lawyer of the Year," 2014, 2016
    • Fellow, American Bar Foundation
    • Martindale-Hubbell® AV® PreeminentTM Peer Review Rating
    • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Corporate Law, 2005-Present. Copyright 2015 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC
    • Recognized by S.A. Scene in "San Antonio’s Best Lawyers" for Business & Corporate

    • Managing Director and Chairman, Cox Smith Matthews, 2006-2014

    • State Bar of Texas 
    • Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
    • American Bar Association and Foundation
    • San Antonio Bar Association and Foundation (Sustaining Fellow)
    • Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce: Board of Directors, 2005-present;  Vice Chair, 2012; State Budget Task Force, Member, 2011-2012
    • San Antonio Economic Development Foundation: Board of Directors, Nominating Committee
    • Texas Biomedical Research Institute, Board of Trustees, Executive Committee, and Corporate Secretary, 1998-present
    • Cancer Therapy & Research Center, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, Board of Governors
    • University of Texas Health Science Center Development Board
    • San Antonio Academy, former Board member and Chairman 
    • Mission Road Ministries, former Board member and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees

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