David P. Smith Email and Phone Number

Widely recognized as an expert in environmental and natural resources law and policy, David Smith has dealt with all major Texas and federal natural resources agencies as counsel, policy advisor or appointed official. As a result, Mr. Smith has a keen understanding of complex regulatory issues and agency processes, as well as strong relationships with key agency personnel. Mr. Smith served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior and Counselor for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, where he developed and oversaw implementation of policies for both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service. In this capacity, he was a member of the Secretary of the Interior’s senior management team, working with political and career leadership across the Department of the Interior, the White House, Congress and other federal agencies. As former Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton noted, “David Smith has a national reputation as a problem-solver in conservation and parks management.” Mr. Smith has testified before both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and has delivered speeches and policy papers to national and international audiences on such topics as the ESA, NEPA, MBA, Bald and Golden Eagle Act, National Wildlife Refuge System, the National Park System, and the CITES. Before devoting his career to public service, Mr. Smith was an attorney in private practice in Austin, where he concentrated on environmental and land-use issues on the federal, state and local levels.Specialties: Mr. Smith specializes in counseling clients in dealings before Congress, the Texas Legislature, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, as well as other federal and state agencies.