Robert Smith is a Partner in the Firm's Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group. His diverse corporate practice focuses on representing individuals, companies, and financial institutions in general business, transactional, securities and regulatory matters. He has handled transactions in a variety of industries including the banking, broadcasting, retail, manufacturing, real estate, technology and health care industries.  In the banking area, Robert advises clients on merger and acquisition transactions, branch purchases, regulatory compliance and capital raising activities (including government investment programs).  He assists companies in corporate finance matters, the placement of debt and equity securities, and counseling boards of directors and executive officers relating to fiduciary duties and corporate governance issues. Robert also regularly represents professionals and professional firms in the formation, expansion, merger and division of professional practices.

• University of Florida College of Law, LL.M. in Taxation, 2001; Graduate Editor, Florida Tax Review
• University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law, J.D., With Honors, 1999; Associate Editor, UALR Law Review
• University of Arkansas at Little Rock, B.S., With Honors, Accounting, 1996

• "Practice Tip" article on drafting shareholder agreements, Winter 2008 edition of The Arkansas Lawyer
• "Managing Risk in Third Party Contracts," September, 2008 edition of The Arkansas Banker
• "Dodd-Frank: What Every Community Banker Should Know," November, 2010 edition of The Arkansas Banker
• "Small Business Lending Fund Program," February, 2011 edition of The Arkansas Banker

• Selected by attorney peers for inclusion in Mid-South Super Lawyers as a Rising Star, 2008 and 2009
• Certified Public Accountant (Registered Inactive), Arkansas

• Arkansas Development Finance Authority
• Celerit Corporation
• Dillard's, Inc.
• Farmers Bank & Trust / Magnolia Banking Corporation
• First National Bank of North Arkansas / First Carroll Bankshares, Inc.
• First National Bank of Fort Smith / First Bank Corp.
• First National Bank of Green Forest / First National Bancorp, Inc.
• First State Bank / First State Banking Corporation
• First Orion / Privacy Star
• GBMc & Associates, Inc.
• HARCO Constructors, LLC
• Horticare Companies
• Orion Capital Partners Central, L.L.C.
• Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects, Ltd.
• Rubber & Gasket Company of America, Inc.
• SCM Architects, PLLC
• Southern Bancorp, Inc.
• U.S. Health Record

• American Bar Association
• Arkansas Bar Association, Tax Section; Chairman, 2008—2009
• Pulaski County Bar Association
• Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants (ASCPA), Taxation Committee; Federal Tax Institute Committee, Co-Chair 2006, 2008
• Arkansas Rice Depot, Board of Directors, 2003-2008
• Leadership Arkansas, Class IV

• Arkansas, 1999