Franklin J. Smith, Jr. of Richardson Plowden honored with 2018 Leadership in Law Award
March 21, 2018
Richardson, Plowden & Robinson, P.A. is pleased to announce that attorney Franklin J. Smith, Jr., was recently recognized with a 2018 Leadership in Law Award, given by South Carolina Lawyers Weekly.
Each year, South Carolina Lawyers Weekly bestows this prestigious award to a handful of attorneys throughout South Carolina who have demonstrated excellence in leadership within the legal profession and their community. The winners were nominated by their peers and colleagues and selected by the publisher and staff of South Carolina Lawyers Weekly. The tenth annual Leadership in Law Awards Dinner will be held March 23 in Charleston to honor these attorneys.
As Richardson Plowden’s pragmatic leader and managing shareholder for four years, Smith was selected by South Carolina Lawyers Weekly for his ability to lead the firm to exceptional growth while maintaining an extremely successful legal practice.
When asked to comment on Mr. Smith’s leadership, Richardson Plowden attorney Emily Gifford Lucey said, “Frank is able to provide advice without criticizing; he cuts out the excessive drama and gets right to the matter at hand; and best of all, he’s capable of making smart decisions for our firm’s advancement while simultaneously carrying on his own successful construction law practice.”
Under Mr. Smith’s leadership, Richardson Plowden has continued to grow and become a very competitive force in business litigation on a local, state, and national level. The firm has grown its number of attorneys to more than 40, with a support staff of more than 80 across three offices throughout the state of South Carolina. Internally, Richardson Plowden has advanced technology systems to stay up-to-date with the latest in best practices and in an effort to provide clients with highest quality standards. Under Mr. Smith’s guidance, the firm also started an eDiscovery support service called Palmetto Litigation Support.
“Frank is the standard of what others should hold themselves to,” says Jared Garraux, a close colleague and mentee of Mr. Smith’s.
A substantial part of Mr. Smith’s practice involves mediation and arbitration on construction and business-related disputes. He has mediated over 250 construction-related matters. He has been a panel member of the National Panel of Arbitrators at the American Arbitration Association for more than 15 years, serving as sole arbitrator and panel member arbitrator on numerous complex construction related matters. He is a member of the Dispute Avoidance and Resolution Division of the Forum on the Construction Industry at the American Bar Association. He has served as the Chair of the Advisory Board for Clemson University’s Civil Engineering Department from 2013-2014. He is also the Past Chair for the Construction Section of the South Carolina Bar.
Also under Mr. Smith’s leadership, Richardson Plowden has given to a number of charitable organizations including the One SC Fund, American Heart Association, the Wounded Warrior Project, Palmetto Health Foundation, Palmetto Health Hospice, SC Bar’s Cinderella Project, Epworth Children’s Home, Palmetto Place Emergency Shelter, and Ronald McDonald House Charities among many others.
Richardson Plowden is honored that Mr. Smith’s unwavering and supportive leadership has been recognized by South Carolina Lawyers Weekly for such a distinguished honor.
About Richardson Plowden
Established in 1973, Richardson Plowden Robinson, P.A., is among the 15 largest law firms in South Carolina, with more than 40 attorneys in offices in Columbia, Charleston, and Myrtle Beach. A full service law firm, Richardson Plowden has more than 25 practice areas providing legal counsel to local, state and national clients. For more information, visit www.RichardsonPlowden.com.
