Grasford Smith is a formidable leader and powerful advocate in the national legal landscape, highly respected both inside and outside the courtroom. As a partner and board member at Akerman LLP, he handles high-stakes, complex commercial litigation for Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and other sophisticated clients, earning him consistent recognition as one of the country’s top lawyers by publications such as Best Lawyers and Lawdragon.
Leveraging extensive boardroom experience, Grasford is uniquely qualified to provide strategic legal counsel for “bet-the-company” commercial disputes and other business matters. He has a proven track record of successfully securing multimillion-dollar settlements and dismissals for his clients. An avid boxing enthusiast and former boxing referee and judge, he has also represented prominent sports figures and teams, including an iconic boxing promoter.
Certified as a mediator by the Florida Supreme Court, Grasford brings substantial dispute resolution experience from prestigious international firms in New York and Washington, D.C. A career-long commitment to service is highlighted by his leadership roles, including vice president of the National Bar Association, a member of the Florida Bar Board of Governors and Florida State University College of Business Executive Committee, and former president of the Palm Beach County Bar Association. His civic involvement in Palm Beach County includes serving as general counsel of the Urban League, past chair of the American Heart Association, and past president of the Black Chamber of Commerce.
As a keynote speaker and author, Grasford has presented at major conferences, such as the National Bar Association Convention, on topics including cybersecurity and crisis management. He also speaks to Fortune 500 companies and business organizations. His articles on legal topics have been published in journals, including the New York University Journal of Law & Business and the Daily Business Review.
Grasford holds a Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law, where he was a Dean’s Scholar, founded the Journal of Law & Business as its Executive Editor, and received the Vanderbilt medal for his outstanding contributions to the law school. He earned his Bachelor of Science with highest honors (summa cum laude) from the Florida State University College of Business, where he was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, served as president of the Management Information Systems Association, and was recognized as a Seminole Torch Bearer for his significant impact on the university. He furthered his education by completing executive programs at Harvard and Cornell.