Services

The commitment of  The Smitherman Law Firm, L.C., is to serve its clients’ needs in a professional, efficient, and responsive manner with the highest degree of personal involvement, competence, creativity, and initiative.

Founded in 1922 by James E. Smitherman and his brother David E. Smitherman, the Firm has a tradition of providing a complete spectrum of civil legal services, while devoting individual attention to every client. The Firm is rated “AV” by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory (the highest rating granted for legal ability and general recommendations) and enjoys a superior reputation among the legal profession, the judiciary, and its clients. While the main office is in Shreveport, Louisiana, it has a satellite office in Bossier City, Louisiana, and represents clients in transactions throughout the United States and overseas.

The Firm has a client base of individuals, privately- and publicly-owned businesses, and lending institutions. Its members have expertise in law related to business organizations, including but not limited to tax credit financing, tax credit development, mixed-finance development; mergers and acquisitions; personal injury and wrongful death; medical malpractice; trucking accidents; construction law; employment law; oil, gas and mineral rights; real estate development and financing; banking; bankruptcy; creditors’ rights; securities; taxation; estate planning; wills, successions, and trusts; landlord and tenant law; and contracts. The Firm handles a variety of civil litigation in municipal, state, and federal courts.

As agent for First American Title Insurance Company of Louisiana, the Firm is authorized to issue title insurance policies for First American Title Insurance Company of Louisiana.

SMITHERMAN RESUMES

William James “Jim” Hill, III
Jim Hill has a diversified legal background with primary emphasis on commercial, contract law; real estate, real estate finance, real estate development; medical malpractice, personal injury; trucking accidents; corporate, partnerships, limited liability companies; wills, estate planning, and succession law; as well as employer-employee relations; oil, gas and mineral rights law; and workers compensation. Specific emphasis is placed on litigation in these areas in all state and federal courts.

Mr. Hill has extensive knowledge and experience in real estate matters involving corporations; general and limited partnerships, limited liability companies, registered limited liability partnerships, conversions, mergers and acquisitions; affordable housing issues; oil, gas and mineral rights; acquisition and sales, commercial leases, property management issues, and financing and transfers of real property and real estate projects. Mr. Hill has drafted all types of loan and closing documents for banks, savings and loan associations, and other types of financial institutions. In addition, he works extensively on matters involving title policies and title company representation, including handling all types of loan closings from VA, FHA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac to conventional. He has served as counsel to new business entities in start-up and capitalization phases, raising investment capital through the formation of limited partnerships, and syndication of securities in the private sector.

Mr. Hill understands the development of multi-family housing projects and the methods of financing these projects. He has worked on numerous and varied projects in several states including Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Kansas, Florida, and Nevada. He is admitted to practice law in the states of Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado , Missouri, Kansas, Mississippi, and also the District of Columbia.

Mr. Hill is a licensed title insurance agent and is authorized to issue title insurance policies for First American Title Insurance Company of Louisiana.

Mr. Hill holds an “AV” rating from Martindale-Hubbell. He is the managing member of The Smitherman Law Firm, L.C., and is the President and CEO of Interstate Title Company, Inc.

Mr. Hill obtained his law degree from Louisiana State University, a Bachelors degree from Vanderbilt University, and a Masters degree from North Texas State University.

Mr. Hill is retired from the United States Army Reserve, having achieved the rank of Colonel in the Judge Advocate General Corps. He currently serves as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for the state of Louisiana.  He also serves as Chairman, Northwest Area, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve; Member, Military Affairs Council, Shreveport, Louisiana; President, Ark-La-Tex Chapter 10, Reserve Officers Association; Member of the Reserve Officers Association; Military Officers Association of America; Association of the United States Army; Member of the American Legion.

Mr. Hill is a Member of the House of Delegates, Louisiana State Bar Association; Shreveport Bar Association, past Chairman, Shreveport Bar Association Publicity Committee; past Chairman, Shreveport Bar Association Military Affairs Committee; Louisiana State Bar Association, American Bar Association, State Bar of Texas, State Bar of Oklahoma, State Bar of Colorado, State Bar of Missouri, State Bar of Kansas, State Bar of Mississippi, the District of Columbia Bar Association, The American Association for Justice, The Louisiana Association for Justice, and The Harry V. Booth and Henry A. Politz American Inns of Court.

Mr. Hill has served in numerous capacities from volunteer to officer and director on various civic, charitable, and community organizations. He has extensive involvement in professional and community activities. Mr. Hill serves as Board Member, First United Methodist Church, Board of Trustees; Member of the Board of Directors and Member of the Standing Committee of the Committee of One Hundred, Inc.; Member, Tax & Estate Planning Council of Shreveport; Member, Shreveport Chamber of Commerce; and Member, Bossier Chamber of Commerce.  He also served as a past president, Ark-La-Tex Tax Institute; Board Member, The Extra Mile, Inc.; Member, Rotary International; and Member, The Rotary Club of Shreveport.  Mr. Hill is a 32° Mason, Member of the Scottish Rite, York Rite, and El Karuba Shrine.

Donald Lee Brice, Jr.
Lee Brice has a broad general practice with emphasis on litigation of business and personal disputes for both plaintiffs and defendants; real estate transactions and financing; business organizations; construction law; successions and estate planning; personal injury and wrongful death; medical malpractice; and bankruptcy. He also practices in the areas of commercial lending, family law, landlord and tenant law, employment law, and other areas related to the foregoing.

Mr. Brice is a licensed title insurance agent and is authorized to issue title insurance policies for First American Title Insurance Company of Louisiana.

Mr. Brice obtained his undergraduate and law degrees from Louisiana State University. For his academic excellence in his undergraduate studies, Mr. Brice obtained cum laude recognition and was honored with an LSU Alumni Scholarship throughout his four years as an undergraduate. While in law school, he received the American Jurisprudence Award for academic excellence in torts.

Mr. Brice is a member of the Shreveport Bar Association, the Louisiana State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.