Akerman Litigation Partner and firm board member Grasford W. Smith has been named to the CBC Power 100 in the Legal category. The annual recognition, presented in celebration of the Congressional Black Caucus, honors accomplished leaders in law, politics, business, and medicine whose work is shaping their industries and communities.

A nationally recognized litigator, Grasford represents Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and athletic leagues in high-stakes commercial disputes and strategic business matters. He serves as Vice President of the National Bar Association, helping lead one of the nation's largest networks of Black attorneys and judges, and sits on The Florida Bar's Board of Governors as Communications Chair and Executive Committee member. He also serves on the FSU College of Business Executive Committee and is certified by the Supreme Court of Florida as a circuit civil mediator.

The CBC Power 100 honor adds to a series of recent recognitions celebrating Grasford's leadership and service, including the National Bar Association's 2026 President's Award, The Florida Bar President's Award of Merit, The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division's Cynthia Henry Duval Outreach Award, and his continued listing on Lawdragon's "500 Leading Lawyers in America."