Bio

Laurence Smith is a corporate lawyer who serves as a trusted adviser to public and private companies, boards of directors, and investment and commercial banks. Larry advises clients on a wide range of strategic matters including mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions for both fund representatives and debt and equity issuers, commercial finance transactions, traditional private company corporate counseling, and syndicated and middle-market loan transactions. Larry has a notable history of successfully concluding high-value transactions. He has significant experience in the automobile dealer industry, assisting clients through acquisition, financing, and franchise challenges while navigating the complex relationships between dealership clients and car manufacturers. Larry represents lenders and investors in distressed debt scenarios, providing strategic counsel on asset acquisition through mechanisms like secured party sales under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code or obtaining controlling equity stakes via debt-to-equity conversions. Larry earned his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, where he served as an editor for the Journal of Comparative Business and Capital Market Law. Earning magna cum laude honors and a distinction in his major, he earned his undergraduate degree from Yale University in economics. Larry then served as a law clerk to Judge Herman D. Michels of the New Jersey Superior Court's Appellate Division.