Kevin Smith joined Shifman & Carlson in 2021 as Of Counsel attorney, bringing over 22 years of experience in public finance, local municipal and school law, deficit elimination planning, government restructuring, public school administration, business, and strategic planning. Kevin specializes in crisis management and developing solutions to help local municipalities and school districts resolve financial deficit and operational challenges.

Since joining the firm, Kevin’s practice is concentrated on representation of state, local government, school and public school academy clients on bond issues and other public financing transactions.

Outside the firm, Kevin’s practice includes recurring support to the Michigan Department of Treasury, Office of School Review and Fiscal Accountability as counsel to several school districts under Treasury’s oversight or subject to Enhanced Deficit Elimination Plans.  Kevin also advises businesses and non-profits on a broad array of matters, including governance, formation, state and local registration requirements, leveraged investment and business expansion.

Kevin is passionate about representing small business clients, because he is a small business owner himself.  Kevin is co-founder and CEO of Greenhorn Training Solutions, a licensed state-wide provider of workforce and pre-apprentice job training.  As a small business owner, Kevin knows what legal services he would want, and he keeps that in mind when working with his clients.

Career Highlights:

In 18 months as the financial manager for the Highland Park School District, Kevin eliminated nearly $3 million in debt, and restructured operations and liabilities to establish a recurring budget structure that generates nearly $1 million surplus annually.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20180627/news/664761/highland-park-schools-regain-local-control-no-emergency-managers-in

Kevin led the team responsible for redesigning the career and technical education (CTE) program model for Detroit Public Schools (DPS), that included leveraged investment of more than $1 million to launch the first unmanned aircraft (drone) pilot and maintenance CTE)program in the state.

http://archive.freep.com/article/20140915/NEWS01/309150008/Detroit-public-schools-tech-centers
http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2015/07/06/drone-project-slated-detroit-airport/29745237/

Kevin was bond counsel for the City of Ecorse $9,495,000 Financial Recovery Bonds, Series 2011 (Dedicated Tax) issuance, that was recognized as winner of the 2011 Bond Buyer Deal of the Year (Small Issuer Category) – Most Innovative.

Kevin was also named to Crain’s Detroit Business, Forty Under Forty in October 2009.  Kevin is a former law clerk to the late Honorable Damon J. Keith, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit.  He’s a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the American Bar Association and the National Association of Bond Lawyers.  He earned his law degree from Wayne State University, where he was a member of the Wayne Law Review.  He earned his undergraduate degree in Business, Supply Chain Management from Michigan State University, Eli Broad College of Business.