Michael Franklin Smith

Michael is a distinguished trial and appellate lawyer with a practice concentrated on complex litigation, including products liability, consumer protection class actions, and insurance bad faith. He represents clients in state and federal courts across the United States and is revered for his expertise in appellate practice, particularly in the Oklahoma Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Michael is admitted to practice in Oklahoma, Illinois, and New York state courts, as well as numerous federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. His appellate work has set new precedents, especially in cases involving issues of first impression. In 2020, he was honored by the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Family Law Section for his contributions to the landmark Schnedler v. Lee case. Recognized by Benchmark Litigation, The Best Lawyers in America, and Oklahoma Super Lawyers, Michael has also chaired the OBA’s appellate practice committee. He graduated from Oklahoma State University with a B.S. in political science and earned his law degree with distinction from the University of Tulsa, where he served as Notes and Comments Editor for the Tulsa Law Journal and received the Robert C. Butler, Jr., Award for Excellence in Legal Scholarship and Writing.