Current association: Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
Law School: Wake Forest University School of Law
Undergraduate: Transylvania University, B.A.
Spouse: Andrew Smith (also a member at Steptoe & Johnson PLLC and fellow EMLF Board of Trustees member)
Children: Two children, son age 4 and daughter age 6 months
Home: Lexington, Kentucky
Favorite food and drink spots in Lexington: You can find me at Kenwick Table (coffee shop) and Mirror Twin (pizza and brewery) on a weekly basis. These neighborhood gems are family friendly and have become part of our weekend routine. It doesn’t hurt that Kenwick Table has some of the best espresso in town and Mirror Twin has an impressive list of hazy IPAs.
You are a litigator that spends much of your time representing coal and oil & gas industry clients. How did you get involved in this area of law? This area of law kind of found me. I applied for a summer associate position at Steptoe & Johnson for my 2L summer and had a wonderful experience. I knew I wanted to work with this great group of attorneys, and it just happened that the position they had available was for an associate in energy litigation. I started my career focusing on representing coal companies, particularly defending citations from the Mineral Safety and Health Administration. Around 2017, my practice transitioned to oil and gas litigation, which has been my focus for the past seven years. I have really enjoyed practicing in this area and gaining such an in-depth knowledge of this field.
You have also handled several appeals. What do you enjoy about your appellate practice? I have been fortunate to have extensive appellate experience over the past seven years. My father was a Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge for 15 years, so appellate work is something I was always interested in doing. Although working on an appeal can seem daunting – both because of the technical aspects of the briefing and because of the challenge of distilling an entire case into a few dozen pages – I have found the work to be very rewarding because it helps shape the future of Kentucky law. Litigation is typically so fast paced that I find appellate work to be a welcome opportunity to hone in on research and writing.
Despite having a busy practice, you have been involved with EMLF, as well as the Kentucky Oil & Gas Association and Kentucky Coal Association. Has your involvement with EMLF or other industry groups had a positive effect on your career? Yes, absolutely. All of these organizations create great networking and educational opportunities for their members. EMLF has done a great job of creating collegiality among its members.
Do you find time to travel for fun? Do you have a favorite place to visit? Daufuskie Island is our family’s “home away from home.” This quirky little island off the coast of South Carolina can only be accessed by ferry, and is almost exclusively traveled by golf cart. The slow pace and small-town vibe is a wonderful break from the business of our normally hectic schedule. I’m fortunate that my in-laws have a beach house on the island that they generously share with us. Most recently, my family spent five weeks there this summer while on parental leave with our daughter.
You have leadership positions with several community organizations that are not related to work. Do you find that work rewarding? Yes, it has been exceptionally rewarding. I have spent the past decade volunteering for Step By Step, Inc., which works to heal and empower young single moms and their children in Lexington. I started working with Step By Step moms as a mentor, and four years later joined the Board of Directors where I have served as secretary, vice president, and president. During this time, I have watched Step By Step grow exponentially as it has risen to the meet the needs of our community. My great-uncle once told me that he was proud of me for my work, but “really proud” of me for my time volunteering for Step By Step, and that has stuck with me for years.
You are a relatively young partner at a major firm. Is there any advice you would give to new lawyers and law students who are about to become lawyers? I credit much of my success to hard work, diligence, and self-motivation. Your first years as an attorney will have a huge impact on the trajectory of your career. Partners are looking for someone who will put in the time to learn the craft of practicing law, help get projects across the finish line, and focus on the details. If you can be relied on to show up at crunch time and to produce quality work, it will be remembered and pay off in the long run.