Our Practice Areas
The attorneys of Smith Butz possess a variety of experiences and specialities to serve our clients needs.
Business & Corporate Law
Smith Butz serves the interests of clients across a broad range of business endeavors. We take pride in adding value for all of our clients, across a wide array of enterprise and transaction sizes, through our dedication to excellence of lawyering and diligence of representation.
Wills, Estates & Trusts
The Estates and Trusts department of Smith Butz is fully equipped to handle any type of estate matter, regardless of the complexity or size of the estate. Our attorneys have drafted numerous Wills and devised estate plans and strategies for clients in an effort to assist in the preservation and transfer of wealth as well as to minimize the tax consequences of wealth and transfer.
Litigation
The attorneys at Smith Butz possess the skills and knowledge necessary to be able to continually achieve success in a variety of litigation matters. Our attorneys undertake every stage of the trial process with the utmost diligence and care in assisting our clients to achieve the result they seek in a cost-efficient manner.
Oil, Gas & Coal
When you are faced with a decision to sign a lease or any other legal document regarding your oil/gas it is critical to have a knowledgeable attorney on your side to represent you during and after lease negotiations. The attorneys at Smith Butz use their broad knowledge and experience in the gas, oil, and coal industries to protect the rights of mineral owners as well as surface owners.
Railroad Law
The occupational disease and railroad litigation department of Smith Butz specializes in defending companies against lawsuits involving employee exposures to various substances including: asbestos, diesel exhaust, benzene, mineral spirits, solvents, and other deleterious substances.
Arbitration and Mediation
The modern trend for oil and gas leases is to include a provision that any and all disputes will be resolved by way of Arbitration. Essentially, this clause, in most instances, eliminates the Court system as means to resolve disputes.
Local Counsel Services
The attorneys at Smith Butz, LLC are willing and able to serve as local counsel for out-of-state attorneys in various counties throughout Western Pennsylvania. Our attorneys have experience practicing law in the State and Federal Courts of Western Pennsylvania.
Appellate Practices
Appeals make up an integral part of the legal process, which is why it is important to work with a lawyer that is well-versed in the different skills and strategies needed to develop an effective appellate advocacy. Our lawyers handle all levels of appeals from state and federal cases, as well as administrative proceedings and arbitrations, across all areas of practice.
Banking & Collections
Whatever your banking or financial focus, our job is to steer your transaction to completion as efficiently as possible through providing skilled counsel in all your financial transactions. Our highly experienced team at Smith Butz, LLC brings unique strategies to advising and representing our client’s interests in virtually all matters relating to capital markets, financial regulation, compliance, enforcement, collections, and general banking.
Mass Tort & Toxic Tort Defense
The attorneys at Smith Butz, LLC are experienced in Mass Tort and Toxic Tort Defense and have counseled clients on the allocation of environmental risks. At Smith Butz, LLC, our attorneys are able to craft and implement defense and litigation strategies that match our client’s specific needs to approach their defense in the most efficient way possible.
Municipal Law & Zoning
State and municipal laws provide regulatory controls over the use and development of land, but these laws impose a confusing process to obtain permits and approvals. Zoning ordinances, subdivision and forest conservation regulations, and building codes are all a challenging, yet unavoidable portion of owning and managing a property.
Personal Injury & Wrongful Death
The results of an accident can be devastating enough on their own, and often times people are unaware of their rights, their options, and how the process works. If you or a loved one are suffering due to an injury or wrongful death, assistance from attorneys experienced in personal injury law can help lessen the burden.
Real Estate & Property
Real Estate and Property legal practices cover a variety of real property transactions such as common law of property, contract law, and statutory and regulatory laws – all of which our attorneys have extensive experience in.