J.R. Smith

Practice Areas

J.R. Smith's practice focuses on restructuring and corporate finance. His extensive transactional and litigation background guides clients through the complete lifecycle of deals. He represents corporate debtors, secured and unsecured creditors, bondholders, lessors, equity interests and trustees in connection with US and international/cross-border restructurings, workouts, Chapter 11 bankruptcies (pre-packs, reorganizations and liquidations), Chapter 15 cross-border bankruptcies, SIPA proceedings, distressed acquisitions/sales, supply chain risk mitigation and crisis management. Throughout his legal career, J.R. has designed and implemented innovative transactions and financial structures, each carefully tailored to help clients achieve global business objectives with a clear understanding of relevant economic, social and political issues.

J.R. has represented financial institutions, private equity, hedge funds, project sponsors and developers, utilities, multilaterals, export credit agencies (ECAs) and foreign governments on a broad range of projects in Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America and the United States.

J.R. is the former managing partner of the firm’s Tokyo office, which he opened in 2011. Leveraging a rich 20-year history of living and working in Japan and throughout Asia, he enjoys a keen insight on transactional and litigation matters affecting Asian interests. Currently, J.R. serves as the Chair of The Japan-Virginia Society.