Rebecca B Hurst

Practice Areas

Mergers and Acquisitions

Trusts and Estate Planning

Corporate Law

Taxation

Securities

Non-Profit Organizations

Venture Capital, Private Equity and Fund Formation

Real Estate Law

Banking and Finance Law

New Market Tax Credits

Business Transactions

Corporate Finance

Entrepreneurial Services

Executive Compensation

Health Care Law

Information Technology and E-Commerce

Professional Service Companies

Retail Consumer Products

Trade Secrets

Asset Protection

Career

Rebecca is the managing partner and a founder of Smith Hurst, PLC and has been recognized by Mid-South Super Lawyers as one of the top fifty lawyers in Arkansas. Originally focusing her legal practice on estate planning and philanthropic endeavors of high net worth individuals and families who have amassed their wealth from family business activities over the past decade, her practice has naturally evolved to not only represent her clients in their estate planning and philanthropic endeavors but also in their business, investing and real estate activities. She frequently serves as general legal counsel in a family office role for many of her clients.

Since 2007, she has been an adjunct professor at the University of Arkansas School of Law where she teaches advanced classes in Federal Estate and Gift Tax, Nonprofit Organizations and Estate Planning. Prior to attending law school, Rebecca worked as an accountant for Beverly Enterprises (now Golden Living) in Fort Smith, Arkansas, serving seventeen skilled nursing facilities with Medicare, Medicaid and financial audit and reporting matters.

Publications

Arkansas Law Notes - "SEC Lifts Ban on General Solicitation, Adopts “Bad Actor” Rules and Proposes Changes to Regulation D and Form D". 2013 /

Legal Aid of Arkansas - "Estate Planning for Hospice Patients: A Manual and Guide for Legal Aid Attorneys".

2008 / Arkansas Law Review "A Change in Planning: Estate of Strangi v. Commissioner’s Effect on the Use of Family Limited Partnerships in Estate Planning". 2004

Experience

In addition to an extensive family office practice, Rebecca routinely advises businesses and corporations with respect to mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and private placement of securities and general business matters. Rebecca’s experience in client representation includes acting as general “outside” counsel to companies, advising on daily business matters, including employment contracting and trade secret issues, corporate structure and governance, financing, contract drafting and negotiation and transactions. She also routinely advises tax exempt organizations ranging from public charities, agricultural organizations and political action committees

Clients

Lifewater International - Prime NWA Investments, LLC - Watercolors of Centerton, LLC - Brookhaven Commercial Properties, LLC - Southwind Hospitality Holdings, LLC - Thrive Autism Solutions - BlueInGreen, LLC - Arkansas Power Electronics International, Inc. - Parkway Bank - Petromark, Inc. - Field Agent, Inc.

Professional Memberships

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS SCHOOL OF LAW

• Teaches advanced classes in Federal Estate and Gift Tax, Nonprofit Organizations and Estate Planning

• Member of Dean’s Advisory Board

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FORT SMITH FOUNDATION

Board of Directors

ADVISORY COUNCIL TO THE ARKANSAS ARTS COUNCIL

Council Member

WALTON ARTS CENTER

Corporate Leadership Council

MORGAN NICK FOUNDATION

Board of Directors

ARKANSAS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

Gift Planning Advisory Council

Education

Awards