W. James Hill, III, (P.L.C.)

Jim Hill has a diversified legal background with primary emphasis on commercial, contract, real estate, real estate finance, real estate development, medical malpractice, personal injury, corporate, partnership, and succession law as well as employer-employee relations, oil, gas and mineral rights law, and workers compensation. Specific emphasis is placed on litigation in these areas in all state and federal courts.

Mr. Hill has extensive knowledge and experience in real estate matters involving corporations, general and limited partnerships, limited liability companies, mergers and acquisitions, affordable housing issues, oil, gas and mineral rights, acquisition and sales, commercial leases, property management issues, and financing and transfers of real property and real estate projects. He has drafted all types of loan and closing documents for banks, savings and loan associations, and other types of financial institutions. In addition, he works extensively on matters involving title policies and title company representation, including handling all types of loan closings from VA, FHA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac to conventional. He has served as counsel to new business entities in start-up and capitalization phases, raising investment capital through the formation of limited partnerships.

Mr. Hill is a licensed title insurance agent and is authorized to issue title insurance policies for First American Title Insurance Company.

Mr. Hill holds an "AV" rating from Martindale-Hubbell. He is the managing member of Smitherman, Hill & Brice, L.C., and is the President and CEO of Interstate Title Company, Inc.

Mr. Hill obtained his law degree from Louisiana State University, a Bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University, and a Masters degree from North Texas State University. He is retired from the United States Army Reserve, having achieved the rank of Colonel in the Judge Advocate General Corps. Mr. Hill is a past president of the Tax Institute of the Ark-La-Tex and is a member of the Shreveport Bar Association, the Louisiana State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, the State Bar of Oklahoma, the State Bar of Colorado, the State Bar of Missouri, the State Bar of Kansas, the State Bar of Mississippi, and the District of Columbia Bar Association, The American Association for Justice, and The Louisiana Association for Justice.

Mr. Hill has served in numerous capacities from volunteer to officer and director on various civic, charitable, and community organizations. He has extensive involvement in professional and community activities. Mr. Hill serves as Chairman, Northwest Area, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve; Member, State of Louisiana Military Advisory Council; Member, Military Affairs Council, Shreveport, Louisiana; President, Ark-La-Tex Chapter 10, Reserve Officers Association. Mr. Hill is also a life Member of the Reserve Officers Association; Military Officers Association of America; Association of United States Army; American Legion. Mr. Hill serves as Board Member, First United Methodist Church, Board of Trustees, 1985-1988, 1992-1995, 2008-Present; Member of the Board of Directors and Member of the Standing Committee of the Committee of One Hundred, Inc.; Member, Tax & Estate Planning Council of Shreveport; Member, Shreveport Chamber of Commerce; and Member, Bossier Chamber of Commerce. He has also served as Past President, Ark-La-Tex Tax Institute; Board Member, The Extra Mile, Inc., 1999-2002; Member, Rotary International, The Shreveport Rotary Club, 1978, Director 1985-1986. Mr. Hill is a Master Mason, Member of the Scottish Rite 33°, York Rite, and El Karubah Shrine. He is currently a member of the House of Delegates of the Louisiana Bar Association.

Mr. Hill understands the development of multi-family housing projects and the methods of financing these projects. He has worked on numerous and varied projects in several states including Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Kansas, Florida, and Nevada. He is admitted to practice law in the states of Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Missouri, Kansas, and Mississippi, as well as the District of Columbia.