Mr. Smith specializes in a legislative and administrative practice and has represented clients in a broad range of matters.

Mr. Smith has been active in politics for over 20 years. In 1980, he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives, the first Republican since Reconstruction to represent Travis County and the City of Austin in the legislature. Mr. Smith served as Chairman of two powerful House Committees, the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, 1985-1987, and the Natural Resources Committee, 1987-1991. Texas Monthly recognized Mr. Smith as one of the Ten Best Legislators in Texas and he received numerous recognitions and awards for his legislative service. In 1999, he was the recipient of the first Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Travis County Republican Party.

In January 1992, President Bush nominated Mr. Smith to be a U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Texas. His nomination was pending when President Clinton was elected. Mr. Smith returned to the full time practice of law.                           

In 1985, Karl Rove introduced Mr. Smith to George W. Bush. The three men continued to correspond and in 1994, when Mr. Bush ran for Governor, Mr. Smith chaired the Central Texans for Bush organization. In 1996, Mr. Smith closed his law practice and became Governor Bush's Legislative Director. He served in that capacity until Governor Bush resigned to become President of the United States.

Mr. Smith was a practicing attorney until he joined the Bush Administration, focusing primarily on business litigation. On January 1, 2001, he joined the law firm of Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP and was head of the firm's Public Law Section in Austin, Texas and Co-Chairman of the Locke Liddell & Sapp political action committee. In April, 2003, he opened his government consulting firm.

Mr. Smith has represented clients before Senate and House Committees, the Governor's Office, the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, the Public Utility Commission, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and several other state agencies.

Mr. Smith is licensed to practice in the State of Texas and the District of Columbia.

J.D., The University of Texas School of Law, 1973

Mr. Smith served in the United States Army from 1969-1971. He is a Vietnam veteran.