Keith C. Smith
Keith Smith is a seasoned attorney in Fennemore’s real estate group, representing businesses and individuals in corporate law and commercial real estate matters. He advises clients on business formation, corporate governance, commercial transactions, and mergers and acquisitions, helping organizations structure and scale with confidence. Keith also serves as outside general counsel to a range of companies, providing ongoing strategic and legal guidance tailored to evolving business needs.
With a background as Senior Attorney and Vice President at Citigroup, Keith brings valuable financial services and transactional insight to complex real estate and corporate matters. He supports clients across a wide range of real estate projects, including office buildings, commercial centers, industrial parks, apartment communities, and multi-family developments. His work spans acquisitions, development, financing, and disposition, making him a trusted advisor for clients navigating the real estate market.
Keith is widely recognized for his contributions to commercial real estate and his forward-looking approach to economic development and public-private partnerships, particularly in Central Florida. He works closely with colleagues in banking and finance, real estate, and utilities to deliver coordinated legal strategies that align with clients’ business goals and long-term growth plans.
Earlier in his career, Keith served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable David Ross in the Maryland Circuit Court and practiced with law firms in both Maryland and Florida. He remains active in the business community and is frequently engaged as a thought leader on issues related to corporate transactions, infrastructure development, and strategic expansion.
Education
- J.D., Widener University School of Law, cum laude
- B.A., McDaniel College
Areas Of Practice
Our real estate practice is one of the largest in the American West, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada and Washington with experience in all aspects of the real estate development process, from due diligence, acquisition and finance, through land use permitting and entitlements, to leasing and sale.
Our experienced agricultural attorneys provide a broad range of assistance to clients, both domestically and internationally, in many areas of agribusiness and agricultural law.
Our business and finance attorneys represent national, regional and local clients participating in significant transactions.
Strategic, business-focused legal counsel, in step with your company’s growth.
Fennemore boasts a large and sophisticated client-focused Mergers and Acquisitions practice.
We are the forward-thinking natural resources, energy and environmental law team that innovates to ensure industry and businesses successfully navigate the ever-changing regulatory climate.
Awards and Honors
- Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law, 2025-2026
- NAIOP, Best Land Deal of the Year, 2023
- NAIOP, Best Industrial Real Estate Project, 2022
- NAIOP, Best Land Deal of the Year, 2025
PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
- Member, Electric Cooperative Bar Association
- Member, The Florida Bar, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, and Business Law Section
- Board Member, Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, 2019-2024
- Member, Maryland Bar Association
- Chair, Plant City Economic Development Corporation, 2017-2018
Admissions
- Florida
- Maryland