Mr. Smoak is a founding partner of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart.
During more than 44 years of representing companies in labor and employment matters, he has personally handled approximately 300 union organizing and decertification campaigns. He has extensive experience in the development and implementation of preventive labor relations programs for clients in all regions of the country.
He is among the one percent of U.S. lawyers listed in The Best Lawyers in America, and has also been selected by his peers for inclusion in the ABA’s College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, and Chambers USA Leading Lawyers in America. Mr. Smoak is the author of three comprehensive nationwide labor relations studies in the construction industry.
He has served on the Greenville (president) and South Carolina State Chambers of Commerce and currently serves on the State Chamber’s Good Government Committee. He has served since 2002 as a member of South Carolina BIPEC’s Board and its Executive Committee since 2004.
He focuses community efforts on early childhood education issues, including service on United Way’s Success by Six Board, and chairing both Greenville County (2001-2003) and the State of South Carolina’s First Steps for School Readiness Board of Trustees (2003-2013).
For his work in early childhood education, he was recognized and received the 2006 Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
