Lori S. Smith Partner

Lori Smith represents foreign and domestic companies at all stages of development from formation and early and growth stage companies to multi-national public companies. Her practice includes representation of both companies and investors in diverse industries including, technology, media, fashion and textiles, financial services, food and beverage, sports, specialty chemicals, insurance, healthcare and digital health. Lori has more than 25 years experience handling corporate and commercial transactional work for her clients, as well as acting as outside general counsel managing all of their other legal needs. She has significant experience representing emerging technology companies and venture capital and angel investors in connection with early and growth stage financings and strategic transactions.  

Lori represents public and private companies in the negotiation of mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, equity and debt financings, private placements, strategic alliances, partnerships and joint ventures. She also advises companies on various legal issues impacting their ongoing business operations, such as governance issues, shareholder and board of directors matters, operational agreements such as consulting, licensing, manufacturing, distribution and supply agreements, employment matters, protection of intellectual property rights and the transitional issues that arise in the transfer of management and control in closely held corporations. 

Lori frequently speaks at events focused on the technology and investment communities in New York. She has moderated or participated as a panelist in panel discussions for the MIT Enterprise Forum and for several years has served as a judge for business plan and pitch competitions at Pace University’s Lubin School of Business. She has spoken on such diverse topics as what investors look for in evaluating a business plan, preparing a company for private equity or venture capital investment, unleashing business growth through change management and exploring mergers and acquisitions, IPOs and alternative exit or liquidity strategies in the current economic environment. 

Prior to joining White and Williams, Lori was a partner at Sedgwick LLP. In addition she was previously a partner at Goodwin Procter LLP.   

Representative Matters

• Represented J9 Technologies, Inc., an IT product and services company, specializing in Business Service Management and Application Performance Management, in its sale to Axxiome Group
• Advised Vidible, a video syndication startup, in its sale to AOL, Inc.
• Represented Horizon Healthcare Services, Inc. in connection with its investment in COTA, Inc., an oncology management technology company 
• Represented Horizon Healthcare Services, Inc. in connection with its participation in a joint venture to acquire Navinet, Inc., a healthcare communications network
• Represented multi-billion dollar investment management firm in sale of insurance fixed income investment business
• Represented transportation logistics company in negotiation of two rounds of mezzanine financing to finance multiple acquisitions
• Represented IT services company primarily focused on the financial services industry in sale of majority interest to private equity firm
• Represented online platform for the alternative investment industry in connection with multiple rounds of equity financing
• Represented international angel investment fund in connection with investments in U.S.-based early stage ventures 

Recognition & Involvement

Lori is an active member of the MIT Enterprise Forum, serving as a member of the Board of the New York Chapter. She was previously a member of the MIT Enterprise Forum global board.  In addition, she serves on the Public Policy Committee Advisory Council for the Angel Capital Association and is a member of the New York Advisory Board of Astia, a not-for-profit organization that promotes and accelerates women-led businesses.

Lori is also involved with Women United in Philanthropy, a giving circle of nearly 100 women in Bergen County, NJ, which makes available grants to local organizations to help women in need due to economic hardships, abuse and other issues. 

In 2010, The New York Enterprise Report named Lori one of “The Best Accountants and Attorneys for Growing Businesses.” In 2008 – 2010, Chambers U.S. named her as one of New York’s leading lawyers in the technology industry.