Grasford W. Smith, a litigation partner in Akerman's West Palm Beach office, has been elected vice president of the National Bar Association (NBA). He will serve for a two-year term effective August 1, 2025.

Founded in 1925, the NBA is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of predominantly Black American lawyers, judges, law professors, and law students, with a network of over 67,000. It works to advance the science of jurisprudence, uphold the honor of the legal profession, promote collaboration among members of the American Bar, and protect the civil and political rights of all citizens.

Grasford has demonstrated steadfast commitment to the NBA for more than a decade through a wide range of leadership roles. He just completed a five-year term as chair of the Minority Partners in Majority Law Firms Division, where he has successfully expanded membership, increased programming, and enhanced the Division’s national presence. In recognition of his service, Grasford received the Clyde Bailey Award.

His prior NBA leadership roles include:

• Vice Chair (2014–2020) and Chair (2020–Present), Minority Partners Division
• Parliamentarian (2014–2015)
• Deputy Regional Director (Region XI) (2020–2021)
• Chair, Region XI (2021–2022) – Under his leadership, Region XI was named “Region of the Year”

In addition, Grasford is the past president of both the F. Malcolm Cunningham Sr. Bar Association (Palm Beach County), where he was honored with the Trailblazer Award and named Member of the Year, and the Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter of the NBA.

Grasford focuses his legal practice on complex commercial litigation matters. He has experience representing Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, athletic leagues, technology companies, and a U.S. Congressman, in addition to a variety of small and medium-sized businesses. He is also certified by the Supreme Court of Florida as a circuit civil mediator.