Biography
Charles L. Smith has over 61 years of litigation experience. He has focused primarily on tort litigation in the state and federal courts wherein he has tried over 300 cases. Charles is a Fellow in both the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and is an Advocate in the American Board of Trial Advocates. He served as President of the State Bar of Texas and the San Antonio Bar Association, and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas and the Commission on Judicial Conduct and the Commission for Lawyer Discipline. He also served on the State Board of Disciplinary Appeals. He has been involved in state, regional and national legal associations throughout his career.
Education
B.A., Texas A&M University
J.D., magna cum laude, St. Mary’s University School of Law
Bar Admissions
Texas, 1955
Court Admissions
United States Supreme Court
- Distinguished Law Alumni’s Award, Law Alumni Association of St. Mary’s University, 1982
- Attorney of the Year Award, Texas Aggie Bar Association, 1985
- Lola Wright Foundation Award, Texas Bar Foundation for Outstanding Public Service in the Enhancement of Legal Ethics in Texas, 2001
- Joe Frazier Brown, Sr. Award of Excellence, San Antonio Bar Association, 2005
- Carol Lomax Memorial Award, San Antonio Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, 2006
- Lifetime Achievement Award, St. Mary’s University School of Law, 2007
- Outstanding 50 year Lawyer Award, Texas Bar Foundation, 2007
- Texas Legal Legend, Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas, 2010
- Lifetime Achievement Award, San Antonio Business Journal , 2012
- Ethical Life Award, South Texas Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel, 2014
- “Best S.A. Lawyers” List, San Antonio Scene, 2017-2020
- Arbitration & Mediation
- Insurance Coverage
- State Bar of Texas
- Board of Directors, 1978-1981, 1984-1987
- Chairman of Board of Directors 1980-1981
- President 1985-1986
- San Antonio Bar Association
- Board of Directors 1973-1975
- First Vice-President, 1975-1976
- President 1976-1977
- Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, President, 1978-1979
- Commission on Judicial Conduct, Chairman, 1990-1994
- Commission for Lawyer Discipline
- Vice-Chairman, 1995-1997
- Chairman, 1997-1998
- Board of Disciplinary Appeals, 2006-2012
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- Texas Association of Defense Counsel
- American Bar Association, House of Delegates, 1985-1986
- American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
- State Committee, 1983-1989
- Chairman 1987-1989
- International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
- Board of Directors, 1998-2003
- American Board of Trial Advocates, Advocate
- American Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
- Texas Bar Foundation, Sustaining Life Fellow
- Board of Trustees, 1981-1984
- San Antonio Bar Foundation, Sustaining Life Fellow