Michael Smith's practice is concentrated in the areas of business transactions and legal counseling for small businesses and nonprofit organizations (including public charities, private foundations, religious organizations, and mutual benefit organizations). Mike represents his clients in a wide variety of transactions, including research and development collaborations, manufacturing contracts, promotional contracts, distribution agreements, licensing agreements, outsourcing arrangements, consulting contracts, and construction contracts. Mike’s practice with nonprofit organizations includes obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status and corporate governance counseling.

Business
Franchise Law
Contract and Commercial

Indiana

Fishers, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana

Two

2008

For more than fourteen years, Michael Ray Smith was in-house counsel for Eli Lilly and Company. While in Lilly’s law division, Mike worked in the environmental legal department, in the office of the corporate secretary, and, for the last ten years, in the commercial transactions group. While in commercial transactions, Mike supported the Company’s global sourcing operations, writing and negotiating contracts for all manner of goods and services, including a $1.3 billion energy management outsourcing transaction. After retiring from Lilly, he opened Michael Smith Law Office, LLC in Fishers, Indiana to provide legal services to small businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Mike has also served as Adjunct Professor at the Indiana University School of Law -- Indianapolis, responsible for the Nonprofit Externship Program at the Community Development Law Center.

Indiana University School of Law - Indianapolis
Summa cum laude

Purdue University
1980-82

Vanderbilt University
1974-78

Master of Science
Chemical Engineering
Purdue University, 1982

Bachelor of Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Vanderbilt University, 1978

1994

Indiana

United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit

American Bar Association
Indiana Bar Association
Indianapolis Bar Association
American Institute of Chemical Engineers

Fishers Chamber of Commerce (Fishers, Indiana)

Former Volunteer Attorney, Community Development Law Center (Indianapolis, IN)

Former Volunteer Attorney, Indianapolis Legal Aid Society (Indianapolis, IN)

Founder and Former Coordinator, Eli Lilly and Company Law Division Pro Bono Program

Recipient, 2004 Heartland Pro Bono Award (presented by Heartland Pro Bono Council, Indiana)

Former Director and President, Community Development Law Center (Indianapolis, IN)