Smith to lead Troutman’s Richmond office

Brooks Smith, a veteran environmental and natural resources attorney, has been named managing partner of Troutman Sanders’ Richmond office, the firm reported Jan. 2. Smith succeeds John West, who has led the Richmond office since 2011 and will now chair the firm’s business litigation department.

“We are grateful for the strategic leadership that John has provided in Richmond and believe him well-suited to lead the firm’s business litigation team. We are confident that Brooks will help drive the firm to new heights in the region and beyond,” said Steve Lewis, firm-wide managing partner, in a news release.

Smith, who joined the firm in 2013, is involved in energy and infrastructure projects in Virginia and has many ties to the local community. He previously chaired the Richmond Business Council, Richmond CultureWorks, Richmond Public Library Foundation and the VCU Rice Rivers Center, was a founding member of Capital Region Land Conservancy, and is active on the boards of The Valentine museum, Richmond Jazz Society and Art on Wheels.

For six years, he contributed commentaries to WCVE radio as part of a series called Rediscovering Richmond.

“I learned ‘servant leadership’ from [Leadership Metro Richmond] and hope to apply it to my new role as managing partner of our Richmond office, creating new collaborations and opportunities within the firm, across our diverse client base, and throughout our local community,” Smith said in a news release.

Smith is nationally recognized for his environmental and energy work and has written and spoken extensively on developments arising under the Clean Water Act and other environmental laws.

Troutman Sanders’ Richmond office opened in 2001, but its roots date back more than a century through its Virginia predecessor, Mays & Valentine. The Atlanta-based Troutman firm has 650 attorneys.