Michael Smith Email & Phone Number

I ensure landowners are justly compensated when their property is taken by the government or other condemning authority in direct or inverse condemnation actions, including Trails Act (“Rails-to-Trails”), highway, rail and pipeline projects. I work with clients on all aspects of litigation, from case investigation to completion. Our firm, Stewart, Wald & McCulley, has represented thousands of landowners across the country and settled the largest Rails-to-Trails case in history.One of my primary focus areas at the firm is ArcGIS mapping; in our litigation matters, I build visual maps that chart historical and current land ownership. This process integrates satellite imagery, street maps, georeferenced spatial data and more. It provides a visual confirmation of our clients’ property rights, which we use to make the case for compensation. Using this technology, I have managed the mapping aspects of dozens of railroad right-of-way cases, tracing some segments back to the mid 19th century.Law is my second career – before and during law school, I worked in the biotechnology industry, where I focused on agricultural genomics and molecular cancer diagnostics. My previous legal experience includes patent prosecution, admiralty and maritime law, and aviation law. Contact me at smith at swm.legal or 314.720.0220.

Listed skills include Litigation, Legal Writing, Arcgis, Geographic Information Systems, and 26 others.