Almuhtada Smith is the principal attorney at ARS Counsel, P.C. With more than a decade of experience, Almuhtada regularly handles complex transactional matters, providing counsel to start-up enterprises, entertainment professionals, venture-backed companies, and family-owned businesses in areas including intellectual property, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, licensing, e-commerce, securities compliance and corporate governance. Almuhtada represents a wide range of companies and individuals, including media, emerging technology companies, fashion and beauty companies, authors, and individual artists. Almuhtada spent the first decade of his career at several prestigious law firms, including nearly five years at corporate powerhouse Jenner & Block. His high-quality work led to his selection in the 2021 Southern California Rising Stars list, an honor reserved for only 2.5 percent of Southern California attorneys. A native of New Jersey, Almuhtada graduated magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, with a bachelor's degree in business administration from Morehouse College. Almuhtada later attended UCLA School of Law, where he earned his J.D. degree. He serves as Chairman of the Board for the Los Angeles Southwest College Foundation. He is also a lifetime member of the John M. Langston Bar Association, where he formerly served on the board of directors as treasurer. When he is away from his law practice and philanthropic endeavors, he enjoys the arts, live music, and attending sporting events.