Michael Ray Smith

Michael Smith was born and raised in Tennessee but has been a Hoosier for more than 35 years. After receiving a B.E. in chemical engineering (summa cum laude) from Vanderbilt University in 1978, he accepted a job with Eli Lilly and Company in Lafayette, Indiana. He took an educational leave of absence from from 1980 until 1982 while he completed a Master of Science degree in chemical engineering, doing research on the potential application of ion exchange technology in the development of an artificial kidney. He returned to Lilly, working first as an engineer in Chemical Process Research and Development and then as a department head of Biochemical Engineering in Bioprocess Research and Development. In 1989 he enrolled in law school while continuing to work full time, obtaining a J.D. (summa cum laude) from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 1993. He then moved to the Lilly Law Division, working first in the Environmental Law Group, and then in Securities and Commercial Transactions. While he was in the Law Division, he organized and led the Lilly Law Divison Pro Bono program. In 2008, he elected to retire from Lilly early to open a business law practice in Fishers, Indiana, originally known as Michael Smith Law Office, LLC and now as Smith Rayl Law Office, LLC.

Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law

J.D. (1993) | Law

1989 - 1993

Honors: summa cum laude

Activities: Note Development Editor, Indiana Law Review

Purdue University - Purdue University

M.S. (1982) | Chemical Engineering

1980 - 1982

Activities: Research in the possible application of ion exchange technology in artificial kidneys.

Vanderbilt University

B.E. (1978) | Chemical Engineering

1974 - 1978

Honors: summa cum laude

Attorney

Smith Rayl Law Office LLC

2008 - Current

Originally Michael Smith Law Office, LLC

Adjunct Professor

Indiana University School of Law -- Indianapolis

2010 - 2012

Taught Contract Drafting to law students

Contract Attorney

Community Development Law Center

2009 - 2009

Adjunct Professor

Indiana University School of Law -- Indianapolis

2009 - 2009

Conducted the Nonprofit Externship Program for law students at the Community Development Law Center.

Attorney/Counsel

Eli Lilly and Company

1993 - 2008

For more than fourteen years, Michael Ray Smith was in-house counsel for Eli Lilly and Company. While in Lilly's law division, Mike worked in the environmental legal department, in the office of the corporate secretary, and, for the last ten years, in the commercial transactions group. While in commercial transactions, Mike supported the Company's global sourcing operations, writing and negotiating contracts for all manner of goods and services, including a $1.3 billion energy management outsourcing transaction.

Yes, Your LLC Needs an Operating Agreement

Fishers Business Insider

2011

Limiting the Discretion of the Administrator of Poor Relief in Indiana

Indiana Law Review

1993

Heartland Pro Bono Award

Heartland Pro Bono Council

2004

Indiana State Bar Association

Member

Current

American Institute of Chemical Engineers

Member

Current

Indiana

Since 1994

D.C. Circuit

Since 1995

U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana

Since 1994

U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana

Since 1994

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