Kelley Smith Bio

Kelley Smith is a transactional attorney whose practice focuses on M&A, commercial matters and general corporate structuring and counseling. Kelley helps businesses (both buyers and sellers) manage risk and resolve issues through every stage of the deal process to reach a closing that meets their strategic needs. During transactions, she coordinates due diligence investigations, drafts and negotiates principal agreements and related documents, incorporates deal support from practice area professionals and manages closings. Along with her transactional work, Kelley provides general guidance to domestic and international companies on corporate matters including commercial contracts, distribution arrangements and entity structures. Kelley’s work encompasses a host of industries, and also includes private equity and venture capital work, and franchisor-franchisee relationships. In all cases, her counsel is based on a practical approach to legal issues that prioritizes the client’s business needs. Kelley serves on the Executive Committee of the Ambassadors Board of Legal Aid Chicago, which provides quality, free legal services to people living in poverty in Cook County, Illinois. Outside of her legal practice, Kelley is an enthusiastic international traveler. Over the last decade she has visited Austria, Botswana, Bulgaria, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, Panama, Peru, South Africa, Turkey and Zambia.