Practice Areas: Family Law, Appellate; view more
Licensed in Florida since: 1997
Education: Northeastern University School of Law
Call today:
786-749-0766
Davis Smith & Jean, LLC
300 Sevilla AvenueSuite 309
Coral Gables, FL 33134-6624 Visit website
Details
Laura Davis Smith is an attorney with the Coral Gables-based law firm – Davis Smith & Jean, LLC, in Florida, with more than 26 years of professional legal experience. Her practice spans both trial and appellate levels, focusing on guiding individuals through the complexities of divorce and family law matters. She is dedicated to helping her clients protect their children, secure their assets and safeguard their personal well-being during challenging times.
With a track record of successful case resolutions, Ms. Smith has notably settled high-profile cases like Heiden vs. Heiden and Alonso vs. Picos through effective mediation strategies. Her commitment to excellence in the field of family law was acknowledged when she was honored twice with The Best Lawyers in America’s "Lawyer of the Year" Award for family law in Miami in both 2017 and 2019. Her professional standing is further underscored by her superb Avvo rating of 10.0 and a peer-review rating on AV Preeminent* through Martindale-Hubbell.
Beyond her practice, Ms. Smith is actively involved in various leadership roles within The Florida Bar Family Law Section. She has been the immediate past chair since 2017 and is a member of the Standing Committee – Marital & Family Law Certification. Additionally, she chairs the Health & Wellness Ad Hoc Committee and has been an executive council member since 2008. Her long-standing membership in the American Bar Association's Family Law Section since 1998 also highlights her deep commitment to the legal community.
Ms. Smith’s academic credentials include a J.D. from the Northeastern University School of Law, where she excelled in moot court competitions and was recognized for having the Best Brief in the jurisdiction of New York during her first year. She holds a B.A. in English with honors from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she was involved in various activities and societies, including serving as a resident assistant and being a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Family Law, AppellateFocus areas
Adoption, Alimony & Spousal Support, Appeals, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Dissolution, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Father's Rights, Juvenile Law, Marital Property, Mediation & Collaborative Law, Name Change, Paternity, Prenuptial Agreements, Same Sex Family Law
- 90% Family Law
- 10% Appellate
First Admitted: 1995, Massachusetts
Professional Webpage: https://dsandjlaw.com/who-we-are/laura-davis-smith/
- Chair, Family Law Section of The Florida Bar, 2016
- Chair of the Marital and Family Law Certification Exam Committee of The Florida Bar
- President-Elect of The Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- Co-Chairperson, Publications Committee, Family Law Section, Florida Bar
- Florida, 1997
- Georgia Bar, 2007
- Member, Executive Council, Family Law Section, Florida Bar
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, 1998
- Member, Family Law Section, Florida, 1997 - 2014
- Massachusetts Bar, 1995
- Certified in Interdisciplinary Collaborative Divorce Training, 2016
- Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator
- Board Certified by the Florida Bar in the area of Marital and Family Law, 2009
- Past President Board of KidSide, Inc.
- Ms. Smith regularly handles pro bono cases in order to give something back to the community.
- Lawyer of the Year in the area of Family Law, for the Miami area (2017, as well), Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers, 2019
- For dedicated service to the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar, 2009 Chair's Award for Outstanding Service to the Section; 2010 Chair's Special Award of Merit, Florida Bar Family Law Section
- Awarded for outstanding dedication to the goals of the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar, Keeper of the Flame Award, The Florida Bar, Family Law Section, 2011
- University of Massachusetts at Amherst, B.A., With Honors, 1990
- Co - Edited Numerous Family Law Articles, The Florida Bar Journal, as well as for the Commentator, which is The Family Law Section's Quarterly Newsletter, 2004
- Ms. Smith presented to approximately 1,200 attendees at the 2011 Certification Review Seminar in Orlando, Florida on the topic of Child Support. The annual seminar, jointly offered by the AAML-Florida Chapter and The Florida Bar, is the most educational of the seminars provided to Florida Marital & Family attorneys, The Family Law Section And AAML 2011 Certification Review Course, 2011
- Moving With Children After Divorce, South Florida Legal Guide, 2008
- Interspousal Tort Liability, Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education, Seventh Edition, 2007
- Alimony & The Effects Of A "Supportive Relationship" As Set Forth in Chapter 64.14, Florida Statutes, South Florida Legal Guide, 2006
- The Art of the Airtight Antenuptial, South Florida Legal Guide, 2004
- Stock Options in Divorce: Assets or Income, South Florida Legal Guide, 2003
- HIV, Judicial Logic and Medical Science: Toward a Presumption of Non infection in Child Custody and Visitation Cases, New England School of Law, Boston Massachusetts Law Review, Winter 1997
- Recognized as a Top Up and Comer by South Florida Legal Guide, 2004
- Selected for Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers, Inaugural Edition, Martindale-Hubbell, 2012, 2013, 2011
- Recognized as a Top Up and Comer by South Florida Legal Guide, 2003
- Recognized as a Top Lawyer by South Florida Legal Guide, 2010
- Best Lawyers 2017 Family Law Attorney of the Year, Miami, Florida, 2017
- Recognized as a Top Up and Comer by South Florida Legal Guide, 2005
- Selected as a Top Lawyer by Florida Legal Elite, 2011
Office location for Laura Davis Smith
300 Sevilla Avenue
Suite 309
Coral Gables, FL 33134-6624
Phone: 786-749-0766
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2012 - 2024
Top Lists
Top 100: Florida Super Lawyers: 2023 - 2024 Top 50: Women Florida Super Lawyers: 2019 - 2020, 2022 - 2024Certificates and credentials
Marital & Family Law