David Smith advises public and private companies and institutional investors on a wide range of business transactions, including mergers, stock and asset acquisitions, tender offers, going-private transactions, minority investments, leveraged buyouts, joint ventures, related financings, and venture capital investments. He also counsels management, boards of directors, and other governing bodies on fiduciary duties and other corporate responsibilities, and is proficient in California, New York, and Delaware corporate laws.
David’s recent clients include public and private companies, private equity funds, family offices, pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds. Among them: ScanSource, Tesla, SolarCity, ConvergeOne, Syncsort, NewNet Communication Technologies, BLUE Software, Caligor Rx, Synoptek, FrontRange Solutions, Inventus Solutions, Third Planet Windpower, Tufco Technologies, Clearlake Capital, Diversis Capital, Seidler Equity Partners, Skyview Capital, Platinum Equity, Marlin Equity Partners, Solace Capital, Monogram Capital, Variant Equity, Highview Capital, Regent L.P., Crescendo Capital, Fallbrook Private Equity, Highland Avenue Capital, K1 Capital, Kayne Partners Funds, Meridian General, Nolan Capital, Griffin Holdings, ROCA Partners, Alberta Investment Management Corp., Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and New Zealand Superannuation Fund.
Admissions
Bar Admissions
- California
- New York
Education
- Pennsylvania State University, J.D., 1999: magna cum laude and salutatorian; member, Penn State Law Review, Woolsack Honor Society, and Corpus Juris Society
- Saint Joseph's University, B.S., 1992
Honors & Awards
- Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® for Mergers and Acquisitions Law in Century City, CA (2023-2025)
Professional Activities
Co-Author
- “Representations and Warranties in M&A Transactions,” Bloomberg (March 2014)
- “Tips for Entering NDAs in a Merger,” The Daily Journal (May 2012)
Board Member
- Board Member, National Association of Counsel for Children
- Former Board Member, Constitutional Rights Foundation
Memberships
- American Bar Association