Overview
“Levi Smith” may refer to practitioners at opposite ends of the legal spectrum: one, a seasoned corporate‐finance attorney shaping debt-finance transactions in Minneapolis; the other, a Michigan practitioner ensnared in serious felony charges. This article analyzes their trajectories, recent developments, and procedural imperatives.
Levi J. Smith – Corporate & Finance Counsel (Minnesota)
Practice Focus & Firm Role
- Position: Shareholder, Fredrikson & Byron P.A., Minneapolis
- Specialty: Represents commercial lenders, private‐equity sponsors, and agribusiness clients in syndicated loans, asset-based financings, and secured transactions.
Recent Transactional Update
- March 3, 2025: Published “Fortifying Your Loan Portfolio: Essential Provisions and Default Notices”, a legal update dissecting covenant drafting, event-of-default triggers, and notice cure periods. This demonstrates his active role in shaping best practices for due diligence and risk mitigation in loan documentation.
Professional Recognition
- Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch (Banking & Finance Law): 2021–2025
- Key Competencies: Negotiating inter‐creditor priority, drafting UCC-compliant security agreements, and advising on borrower litigation risk.
Levi T. Smith – Personal Injury Attorney Turned Defendant (Michigan)
Allegations & Arrest
- Incident Date: June 1, 2024 (~1:20 a.m., Royal Oak, MI)
- Charges: Attempted home invasion (felony), possession of a firearm in commission of a felony.
- Modus Operandi: Allegedly carried a backpack loaded with weapons, handcuffs, rope, and duct tape while attempting unauthorized entry into a former co-worker’s residence.
Procedural Posture
- Arrest & Bond: Taken into custody without incident; bond set at $25,000.
- Arraignment: Initial probable-cause hearing held June 14, 2024; formal arraignment pending.
- Custodial Observations: Reports indicate the defendant exhibited “suicidal tendencies” in pretrial confinement, raising concerns for mental‐health assessments under Michigan Court Rule 6.112.
Professional and Ethical Fallout
- Employment Termination: Anthony, Paulovich & Worrall (former employer) executed immediate termination upon news of the arrest.
- Licensing Implications: Subject to probable suspension under Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 8.4(b) (criminal acts reflecting adversely on fitness to practice law).
Other Notable Mention
- Levi P. Smith (1885–1970): Vermont lawyer and politician. Historical footnote; no bearing on contemporary practice.
Conclusion & Next Steps
- For Corporate Clients: Engage Levi J. Smith for transactional due diligence, sophisticated financing structures, and lender-side risk allocation.
- For Regulatory Monitors: Track Levi T. Smith’s docket via Michigan e-filing (MiFILE) for updates on pretrial motions, competency evaluations, and potential plea negotiations.
Whether seeking prescriptive guidance on loan-portfolio fortification or monitoring a criminal defense proceeding, discerning the individual “Levi Smith” pertinent to your legal needs is essential for due diligence and informed engagement.
