Dan Smith, son of a Disabled Veteran, his accomplished and wide-ranging career includes tenures as a partner in a major Detroit law firm, General Counsel of an international manufacturing company, founding partner of his own law firm, founder of several title insurance companies, and investor in several small businesses. With over 26 years of legal experience, including extensive expertise in transactions, financing, and litigation, Mr. Smith is a seasoned business counselor and creative problem solver.
After 10 years in private practice, including stints at Detroit’s largest law firm (Dickinson Wright) & as partner in a bankruptcy boutique firm (Schafer and Weiner), Mr. Smith became a sought-after transactional attorney and routinely handled high profile and contentious bankruptcy matters and commercial transactions. He then served for six years as General Counsel for a large private holding company specializing in the automotive sector. In addition to being an influential member of the executive team, Mr. Smith served as lead transaction counsel and was a key force behind the growth of the company into 43 distinct entities in 17 countries with nearly $1 Billion in revenue.
Thereafter, despite fielding offers to join the legal team at several Forbes 500 companies, Mr. Smith decided to fulfill a lifelong dream and found his own law firm (Smith, O’Toole, & Brooke) together with a childhood friend. During his tenure at Smith, O’Toole and Brooke, Mr. Smith grew the law firm from nothing to a five attorney firm with two offices located in Lexington and Richmond, handling hundreds of cases annually and serving dozens of counties in central Kentucky. Subsequently, Mr. Smith has continued his entrepreneurial streak by starting multiple title insurance agencies in Kentucky and Florida and investing in several other small businesses.
Mr. Smith graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in history and graduated from Wayne State University Law School where he was a member of the Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity.
In his free time, Mr. Smith enjoys spending time with his Wife of 26 years and his three children. Mr. Smith is also an avid professional musician performing in bands in both Florida and Kentucky.