Louis Smith has practiced water resources law for nearly forty years, representing watershed districts and other clients across the state of Minnesota. Mr. Smith published the Watershed Rulemaking Handbook for the Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts. He counseled the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District in structuring the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes Clean Water Partnership, the largest urban lake restoration project in the United States and recipient of five environmental awards, including the CF Industries National Watershed Award and the Minnesota Governor’s Award for Excellence in Pollution Prevention. He counseled the Brown’s Creek Watershed District through the development and construction of a major flood mitigation and trout stream protection project and adoption of comprehensive rules. He counseled the Rice Creek Watershed District through the adoption of one of the state’s first Comprehensive Wetland Protection and Management Plans and also serves as legal counsel for the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District and the Red River Watershed Management Board.
Mr. Smith has broad experience in structuring public-private partnerships and providing strategic counsel to clients confronting a wide array of public policy challenges. In 1991-92, Mr. Smith served as Deputy Hennepin County Attorney, where he was second in command of an office of 125 attorneys responsible for felony prosecution and civil representation of Hennepin County. Mr. Smith is past Chair of the Rivers Council of Minnesota Board of Directors. He was appointed by Governor Tim Pawlenty to the Clean Water Council in 2007, reappointed by Governor Mark Dayton in 2011, and served as the council’s first chair. Mr. Smith teaches water law at the University of Minnesota Law School.
EDUCATION
St. Olaf College
B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, 1979
University of Minnesota
J.D., cum laude, 1983
BAR ADMISSIONS
Minnesota
PRACTICE AREAS
Water Resource
Public Sector