Van Smith Email & Phone Number

Richmond, Va, Us

Richmond, Virginia, United States

While remaining Managing Partner of Smith Strong, PLC law firm, attorney H. Van Smith leads Strong Title matching a traditional, friendly customer service-experience, with the latest technology and A.I. software. Combining "technology with kindness and intelligence," Strong Title delivers the fastest, easiest, on-time closing for residential and commercial real estate in central Virginia, with a reliable there-when-you-need-them team.

Richmond, Virginia & Williamsburg, Virginia

Van Smith focuses his practice on family law (divorce, custody), estate planning (including wills, trusts, and asset protection planning), and estate/fiduciary litigation matters. Van also provides trusted legal counsel to a number of business owners across central Virginia, from law offices Richmond to Williamsburg, Virginia. ​He is the sole owner of SMITH | STRONG, PLC, and a member of the family law and estate planning sections of the Virginia State Bar, and the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. Van is also a member of Wealth Counsel and Lawyers with Purpose, premier, national organizations of estate planning attorneys.Van has grown Smith Strong, PLC from a laptop, an I-Phone, and no clients to a multi-million dollar law practice with over 25 attorneys, staff, and contractors in 10 years, including maintaining a cohesive team approach on cloud-based systems while working outside the office 40% of the time for client meetings during the pandemic.Van received the highly regarded Super Lawyers' Rising Star distinction, 2014 - 2021; Virginia Business Magazine's Legal Elite designation in 2015 - 2021; and Richmond Times-Dispatch's "Best Attorney" honor, after 280,000 votes were cast across Central Virginia, 2021-22.​Featured several times in the Richmond Times Dispatch and Daily Press, Van frequently lectures, speaks, and podcasts on a variety of topics, including: (1) family law and estate planning issues in Virginia; (2) how to provide elite client service, through skillful communication and action plan development based upon a client’s unique situation and goals; and (3) across industry sectors on his proven approach to management, marketing, and entrepreneurship.​Prior to forming SMITH | STRONG, Van worked in higher education (William & Mary, UVA), the federal government (DoD in Iraq), and in the law under highly-regarded family law and estate planning attorneys in Northern Virginia, and in corporate litigation for Williams Mullen in Richmond, VA.

Leesburg, Virginia

Represented individuals in family law and estate planning matters, including divorce, related tax and business issues, property distribution, child custody and spousal support plans, and integrated solutions for wealth preservation and management.Provided counsel to corporations, real estate property management firms, and small businesses in a wide range of corporate matters from formation to operational support to dissolution, including drafting/negotiating agreements, collections/creditor's rights claims, and commercial litigation.Served the community as a member of the family law sections of the Virginia State Bar, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, and American Bar Association. And former member of the Loudoun County Bar Association and Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce.

Charlotesville, Virginia

Managed the creation and administration of a three-thousand acre multi-use facility for UVA, overseeing all day to day operations of the program division, including financial management, human resources, and general operations of Morven on behalf of UVA Foundation Director and University President.Researched, drafted, and presented memoranda and course of action on legal, human resources, taxation, financial management, marketing, and zoning matters regarding Morven to UVA Foundation leadership.Served on UVA Foundation committee to create a sustainable fiscal plan to operate Morven's $40M endowment, including the development of a long-term marketing plan.Promoted from Higher Education Fellow at the UVA Foundation in February 2010.Recruited and implemented the first 155 programs at Morven.

Richmond, Virginia Area

Commercial litigation for regional, national, and international clients, in particular in the areas of construction, intellectual property, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.Co-authored "Construction Damages" for the Virginia CLE Handbook on Construction (2008).

Baghdad, Iraq

Managed the transfer of internal security apparatus--strategy, policy, and forces--to Iraqi leadership within Iraq's Ministry of Interior.Managed Iraqi counterparts rebuilding fire and emergency services throughout Iraq, including 214 stations, with the Ministry's Civil Defense management team.Organized and directed first annual Iraqi Civil Defense Conference.Awarded "Honorary Iraqi Firefighter" certificate for service to the Iraqi Civil Defense Directorate in 2004.

Advised Vice President of Public Affairs and Director of Government Relations on community, state, and federal initiatives on behalf of W&M and respective alumni.Organized and implemented grassroots mobilization efforts among students, faculty, and staff to support initiatives in Virginia's General Assembly.Promoted to Director in 2002.

Jd, Law

Activities and Societies: Notes Review Editorial Staff, William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review; President & Curriculum.

Ba, Government & History

Activities and Societies: Awarded Kraemer Scholarship to study in Bath, England (summer 2002); Instructor: assisted youth traumatized.

Architecture, History, Literature, Drama, English

Study Abroad in Bath, England, Summer 2002.

Advanced Diploma