Edward F. Smith

Ed's practice focuses on corporate, real estate, and financing transactions.

His real estate work involves transactional real estate matters, including HUD, bond, and securitized financing transactions. Ed has represented clients in the acquisition, sale, leasing, and financing of shopping centers, manufactured home parks, industrial parks, and apartment complexes.

In his corporate practice, Ed handles business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, equipment leasing, and financing. He has represented parties in the acquisition or disposition of steel mills, manufacturing companies, grocery stores, funeral homes, professional practices, mobile home parks, and equipment dealerships.

He has also represented major and regional commercial banks, as well as several local and regional banks, in loan originations (including construction and floor plan financings), workouts, and loan restructurings (including secured party sales and non-bankruptcy liquidations). Additionally, Ed has experience with Historic Tax Credit financing transactions.

Ed’s clients include software and technology start-ups, as well as early-stage companies. He also represents franchisors, focusing on new operations, preparation of all compliance documentation, and establishing state-by-state qualifications.

Experience

• Represented the US affiliate of a German plastics manufacturing company in the approximately $250 million acquisitions of a specialty films business with locations in three states and two countries 
• Represented a specialty foods manufacturing business in its $235 million sale to a publicly traded Canadian corporation 
• Represent real estate developers with projects throughout the United States on all aspects of commercial real estate development, including acquisition, leasing and financing 
• Represented major national discount drugstore chain and major national office products supply chain on lease matters 
• Represented owners of local manufacturing company in recapitalization in excess of $80 million

Services

• Real Estate
• Closely Held & Family-Owned Businesses
• Joint Ventures, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Private Equity
• Public Finance

1. Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D.
   • cum laude
2. Washington University in St. Louis, A.B.
   • cum laude

Bar Admissions

1. Ohio

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association, Member 
• Ohio State Bar Association, Member 
• Mahoning County Bar Association, Member Certified Grievance Committee (2006-2011, 2018-present) 
• Trumbull County Bar Association, Certified Grievance Committee
  • Member (2017-2023)
  • Chairman (2023-present) 
• Trumbull County Bar Association, Fee Dispute Committee
  • Chairman (2023-present) 
  • Co-Chair (2019-2022) 
  • Member (2016-2019)

Community Affiliations

• Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio, Board Member 
• City of Cortland Civil Service Commission, Member