Smith Davis

Since joining Akin Gump in 1979, Smith W. Davis has provided legislative counsel on a wide variety of public policy matters, including issues concerning matters before the House and Senate Banking Committees (housing, insurance and securities) and Judiciary Committees (telecommunications, legal reform and bankruptcy). From 2002 to 2006 he co-managed the public law and policy group’s business and practice development in the Washington office and now serves as chairman of the policy and regulation practice group steering committee. He also serves on the firm's compensation and management committees. As head of the firm’s legislative financial institutions policy practice, Mr. Davis coordinates a team of lawyers engaged in a diversified financial service practice before Congress, the executive branch and various regulatory agencies. He represents foreign and domestic investment houses and commercial banks, consumer lending companies and U.S. thrift institutions on a range of issues, including merger and acquisition law reform, bank holding company issues and securities law reform. His practice also includes work related to mortgage insurance, home equity and hedge fund matters. In his practice before the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, Mr. Davis has represented one of the world’s premier voice, video and data communications companies on telecommunications issues, consumer lending companies in bankruptcy reform legislation and a variety of companies on civil RICO, antitrust and asbestos law reform, and other legal policy issues. Prior to joining Akin Gump, Mr. Davis served as a counsel to the House Judiciary Committee from 1978 to 1979. Active in Republican politics, Mr. Davis coordinated federal judiciary issues for Senator Robert Dole’s 1987-88 campaign for the presidential nomination. In 1990 he served as general counsel to the Women’s Senate Republican Victory Committee. From June 1991 through December 1994 he served as special counsel to the National Republican Senatorial Committee and in 1995 and 1996 he served as a senior advisor to the Phil Gramm for President committee. In 2000, Mr. Davis served as member of the Bush-Cheney HUD Transition Advisory Team. Mr. Davis received his B.A. magna cum laude in 1970 and his J.D. in 1974, both from Yale University. He served as law clerk to the Honorable Barrington D. Parker of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Mr. Davis is a member of the District of Columbia Bar.