Husch Blackwell is pleased to announce that Gregory R. Smith, partner in the firm’s Real Estate & Development group, has been named to The American Lawyer’s 2021 inaugural list of Midwest Trailblazers.
Smith is based in the firm’s St. Louis office and recently concluded a three-year team as firm Chairman after serving as CEO and Managing Partner from 2012-2018. The American Lawyer recognized Smith with the Trailblazer award due his leadership of Husch Blackwell as it established and evolved an industry-focused business model, an approach that was unusual for its time.
“When I assumed the Chief Executive position in 2012, we decided to do something radically different for the legal industry. We dispensed with traditional practice areas as the administrative structure for our firm and organized ourselves by industry,” Smith said. “While this approach was not uncommon in other professional services firms, such as accounting and consulting firms, it was quite rare for an AmLaw100 law firm.”
Smith returned April 1, 2021 to his full-time legal practice. Known for his work on major league stadium deals and consistently recognized as one of the top lawyers in his field, Smith helps private developers negotiate assistance through public incentives. He has represented parties in some of the most significant redevelopment projects in the St. Louis region.
The Trailblazer series is a special supplement developed by The American Lawyer to spotlight a handful of individuals from each practice area “that are truly agents of change,” with a goal of recognizing professionals in the Midwest who have “moved the needle in the legal industry.”