Strategic Planning in Key West, FL - The Smith Law Firm Team

Wayne LaRue Smith, MBA, JD

Wayne LaRue Smith is the principal of The Smith Law Firm and holds the highest rating (AV) for exceptional legal ability and ethical standards from Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Smith is profiled annually in the Marquis directory 'Who's Who in American Law' and is included in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. He focuses his transaction and litigation practice on commercial, corporate, real estate, and estate planning law.

Mr. Smith graduated from The University of Arizona School of Law and also holds a Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University. Prior to entering the practice of law, he headed several companies that provided law office staffing, computer systems implementation, and corporate training programs.

Mr. Smith is also a member of the Bars of Florida, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, and the United States Supreme Court. He serves on the Florida Bar Board of Governor's for the 16th Circuit, the board of directors of Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc., where he acted as a past president. Mr. Smith is the former president of the Monroe County Bar Association and a past chairman of the 16th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee.

Brett Tyler Smith

J.D., Florida International School of Law
B.A., Florida State University, Finance and Real Estate

Brett Tyler Smith focuses his practice in the areas of commercial, business, real estate and probate litigation, real estate transactions, probate, estate planning, and local  law. Prior to joining The Smith Law Firm, Mr. Smith was an associate at a Coral Gables based law firm specializing in toxic tort litigation.

While in law school Mr. Smith clerked at The Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, and spent a semester in Seville, Spain studying International Sales and EU Comparative Law.

Ashley N. Sybesma, JD

J.D., University of Miami School of Law

B.A., Florida Atlantic University, Political Science

Ashley N. Sybesma is a senior associate for The Smith Law Firm, focusing her practice in the areas of commercial litigation, immigration, land use, construction defect, and product liability. She handles all phases of complex civil litigation. Ms. Sybesma has served as counsel for retailers, multi-national corporations, general contractors, and health care providers. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Sybesma was a litigation associate with a national law firm primarily handling tort matters.

While in law school, Ms. Sybesma participated in the nonprofit Institute for Shipboard Education, Semester at Sea. While sailing on the SS Universe Explorer, she studied international copyright law and international contract law.

 RECENT REPRESENTATIONS

• Representation of homeowner in property dispute relative to a dock that encroached on neighboring property and a shared driveway.
• Representation of permanent residents to adjust status and become U.S. Citizens.
• Representation of victim of domestic violence in a successful jury trial for intentional infliction of emotional distress and assault resulting in a significant jury award.
• Representation of non-profit in obtaining an H-1B visa for prospective employee.
• Representation of developer to successfully obtain rights to construct approximately 200 affordable/work force housing in litigation against the United States Government and neighbors.
• Representation of a U.S. based disaster recovery and special environmental services contractor against local municipalities related to debris removal associated with Hurricane Irma.
• Representation of homeowner under rights provided by Monroe county code to protect against illegal transient rentals.
• Representation of national fraternal order with nearly a million members and excess of 140-year history in real estate dispute regarding a broker’s commission after the sale of client’s property in Palm Beach County.
• Representation of local photographer regarding copyright infringement and improper use of photograph by local realtor.
• Representation of homeowner in dispute with neighbors over Historic Architectural Review Commission issuing Certificate of Appropriateness.
• Representation of national telecommunications company on alleged ADA violation involving a service dog.
• Representation of a multi-national company on product liability claim involving sealant used to install high-tech laminated windows to yachts.
• Representation of multi-national company in construction defect and breach of contract matters.
• Representation of national retailer in general premises liability matters and pharmaceutical negligence.
• Representation of national dairy company in catastrophic trucking matters.
• Pro Bono representation of Unaccompanied Alien Children in immigration proceedings.
• Representation in foreclosure prosecutions.

REPORTED CASES

• Far Niente, LLC, etc., et al., v. City of Key West, et al., 2016 WL 7232265 (Fla. 3d DCA 2016)
• Greg Daniels and Mitchell Bellows and Department of the Navy v. Monroe County and Rockland Operations, LLC and Rockland Commercial Center, Inc., 2016 WL 4268887 (Fla. Div. Admin. Hrgs. 2016)
• Lauren Benjamin v. The Naked Truth d/b/a Pleasure Emporium, 2009 WL 5207268 (Fla. 11th Cir. Ct. 2009)

Professional & Community Involvement

• Florida State Bar
• United States Federal Bar for the Northern District of Florida
• United States Federal Bar for the Middle District of Florida
• United States Federal Bar for the Southern District of Florida
• United States Supreme Court
• American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) (2017 – Present)
• Appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the Sixteenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission in July 2020 for a term ending July 1, 2023
• Appointed by The Supreme Court of Florida to serve on the Board of Directors of the Florida Bar
• Foundation for a three-year term (2018 – Present)
• Member of Sixteenth Circuit Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, Chair (2018 – Present)
• Member of the 16th Judicial Circuit's Professional Committee (2016 – Present)
• Member of Monroe County Pro Bono Committee (2016 – Present)
• Monroe County Bar Association; Monroe County Bar Association Executive Board (2016 – 2019),
• Monroe County Bar Association President (2018)
• Key West Chamber of Commerce, Economic Affairs Committee (2015 – Present)
• Appointed to Florida Bar’s Vision 2016 Commission
• Legal Education Committee
• Florida Bar Foundation Fellow (2011 – Present)
• Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors (2011 – 2016)
• Law Schools Committee, Liaison (University of Miami) (2011- 2013)
• Law Schools Committee, Co-Chair (2012 – 2013)
• Law Schools Committee, Chair (2013 – 2016)
• University of Miami School of Law Young Alumni Committee (2011 – 2014)
• Regional Representative, Broward County (2012 – 2013)

Recognition

• Nominated and selected by Florida Keys Woman Magazine as a Keys Woman Touching Lives, April 2019

• Selected as a judge for “A Blue Tarp Fashion Show,” presented by The Mystick Krewe of Key West in support of Sister Season Fund & Wesley House (2019)
• President's Pro Bono Award, The Florida Bar, Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, 2018
• Law Alumni Association Achievement Award, University of Miami School of Law, 2018
• AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Center for Ethics and Public Service Zuckerman Spaeder
• Center for Ethics and Public Service Fellowship Prize Recipient

Publications

• “Business Suspecting Fake Service Dog Must Stay Within Limits” Daily Business Review, June 25, 2014
• Contributing author to the DRI Child Products Compendium in 2011
• Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP Product Liability Bulletin, November 2010
• “Got Chinese Drywall?” Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A. Litigation Quarterly, June 2009
• “Failure to Prosecute,” Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A. Litigation Quarterly, September 2006