Mark R. Smith

Serving both regional and nationwide businesses for 34 years, Mark assists clients with not only the prevention of legal problems but with the resolution of complex litigation issues.

Mark is a State and Federal Court Approved General Civil Mediator, with regular appointments by the Kent County Circuit Court and the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan.  He has extensive representative experience handling claims in excess of one million dollars and has handled some of the largest (30 million plus) and longest (eight week jury trial) cases in Kent County history.

He frequently lectures on topics including:

-       Alternative Dispute Resolution

-       Employment discrimination and sexual harassment

-       Whistle-blower and retaliation claims

-       Construction liens, public and private sector construction contract terms, change orders, delay damages

-       Architectural copyrights

-       Employee non-competes

-       Confidentiality agreements

-       Electronic communication policies and e-discovery rules……

…….for the Grand Rapids Bar Association, the Association of Building Contractors, The Grand Rapids Home Builders Association, the National Business Institute, the Michigan County Medical Care Facilities Council and Lohrman Education Services. He also published numerous articles on these and other employment, construction and commercial law topics.

Awards and Recognition

-       Martindale Hubbell Preeminent AV Rating

-       Community Media Center, 2006 Media Access Leadership Award

-       Leading Lawyers^SM

-       Selected as a "Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation

-       Grand Rapids Bar Association President's Award, 2014

Education

-       Marshall-Wythe School of Law, College of William & Mary, Juris Doctor, 1981

-       Western Michigan University, Bachelor of Business Administration, 1978

-       Kellogg Community College, Associates in Arts, 1976

Mediation Training

-       Advanced Mediation Training; ADR Section of the Grand Rapids Bar Association (2009)

-       Advanced / Refresher Mediation Training; US District Court for the Western District of Michigan (2009 through 2015)

-       Advanced Mediation Training; Institute of Continuing Legal Education (2010)

Bar Admissions

-       US Federal District Court of Western Michigan

-       US Federal District Court of Eastern Michigan

-       US Federal District Court of Eastern Wisconsin

-       United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

-       United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit

-       United States Tax Court

Professional Activities

-       Grand Rapids Bar Association, President (2011-2012)

-       Grand Rapids Bar Association,  Vice President (2009-2010)

-       Grand Rapids Bar Association, Secretary (2007-2009)

-       Grand Rapids Bar Association, Trustee (1997-2000)

-       State Bar of Michigan

-       American Bar Association

Community Activities

-       Board Member, The SOURCE

-       The Grand Rapids Community Media Center (Trustee 2000-2003, President 2004-2006)

-       West Michigan Blues Society (Trustee 1993-1997, President 1998-1999)

-       Leadership Grand Rapids