About Richard
Richard A. Smith
​Richard was born and raised in Arkansas. He graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in 1992, studying Business Administration, Economics and Communications while on the football and track teams. He attended law school at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, graduating in 1995.
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Richard then worked with the Arkansas Attorney General's office in a class action lawsuit involving the Arkansas State Police. In the spring of 1996 he began a judicial clerkship at the trial court level working under Judge John Ward. Richard entered private practice in July, 1999, and has maintained a state-wide insurance defense practice ever since. He practiced at the Barber Law Firm for almost 5 years then moved his practice to Kilpatrick, Williams & Meeks, a predecessor to Smith Williams, in 2004. Richard assumed the position of Managing Partner of the firm in 2011.
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At the encouragement of members of the plaintiff's bar, Richard expanded his practice and enrolled in the Arkansas Supreme Court's mediation training class. He formed Smith Mediation in 2021. Richard is on the Arkansas Supreme Court's list of approved mediators for civil litigation and probate matters. He has conducted over 240 mediations.
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Richard is married, with a step-son in the United States Air Force and a son in elementary school. He is active in his church, serving as a deacon and Sunday school teacher, and has coached youth sports for decades.