Frances Smith

Principal

Representative Matters

  • Defend claimant owed $49 million from fraudulent transfer litigation in In re Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations, LLC
  • Represent former employees and claimants in In re Highland Capital Management, LP bankruptcy case and related adversary proceeding
  • Represent The Huntington National Bank as Bond Trustee in In re BSPV-Plano, LLC
  • Represented largest mineral interest owner in the Chesapeake Energy bankruptcy case resulting in payment and determination that claim was fully secured
  • Represented large QSE provider in the Brazos Energy case
  • Represented fast food franchises in bankruptcy cases
  • Represented low-income housing provider in its Chapter 11 case
  • Represents secured lender in the bankruptcy of assisted living centers
  • Represents national equipment lessors in bankruptcy cases and out of court restructurings, including the reorganization of a trucking, healthcare, printing, and construction businesses
  • Represents national car dealership owner in successful contested purchase of assets in Chapter 11
  • Represented chemical company in purchase of assets in out-of-court restructuring
  • Represented medical equipment lessor in Chapter 11 reorganization of multi-unit emergency center
  • Represented car dealership in out of court restructuring
  • Represented owner of 264 fast-casual restaurants in its Chapter 11 reorganization
  • Represented franchisee of 26-unit restaurants in its Chapter 11 reorganization
  • Represented a regional railroad in its Chapter 11 restructuring
  • Reorganized a medical device development company is its Chapter 11 pre-packaged bankruptcy case
  • Represented unsecured creditors committee in the Chapter 7 case of a printing company
  • Represented real estate development company in its Chapter 11 reorganization
  • Represented aircraft management companies in their Chapter 11 reorganizations
  • Represented unsecured creditors group in the out-of-court restructuring of a printing company
  • Represented Eagle Drilling as a creditor in the Blast Energy bankruptcy case. Responsible for drafting substantive pleadings, witness preparation, deposition preparation, trial preparation, and acting second chair at trial
  • Represented purchaser in the acquisition of Pittsburgh Brewing Company, Inc. through a Chapter 11 plan. Responsible for managing case, drafting the plan and disclosure statement, working with local counsel, and negotiating claims with various creditors
  • Represented Americas Mining Corporation and Asarco Incorporated in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of their subsidiary. Responsible for drafting several substantive pleadings on executory contract issues in the both the main bankruptcy case and an adversary proceeding
  • Represented Mirant Corporation and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries in their Chapter 11 cases in Fort Worth. Mirant was an international company whose core business is the production and sale of electricity and electrical capacity
  • Represented of Link Energy f/k/a EOTT Energy Partners, LP in its pre-negotiated Chapter 11 proceedings, Lead Associate in post-confirmation matters. Responsible for settling, litigating and negotiating over 12,000 claims including successfully arguing at hearings on the claims
  • Defended oilfield services provider in preference litigation
  • Defended Wellspring Capital Management LLC in preference litigation in the Brook Mays Music Company bankruptcy case. Resulted in the dismissal of the lawsuit with prejudice with no damages awarded to plaintiff
  • Biography
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  • Representative Matters

Firm Highlights

  • Publications & News
    Thomas Powell Named to Arlington Magazine’s 2026 Top Lawyers List
    Thomas Powell Named to Arlington Magazine’s 2026 Top Lawyers List
  • Blog Posts
    Click & Claim: How Executors Navigate Unclaimed Property Refunds in Virginia
    Click & Claim: How Executors Navigate Unclaimed Property Refunds in Virginia
  • Podcasts
    Beyond the Basics of Employee Training
    In this episode of OK at Work, attorneys Sarah Sawyer and Russell Berger of Offit Kurman discuss why employers should view employee training as an opportunity rather than just a compliance task. They note that some training is required by certain states or insurance companies but emphasize that effective training should mitigate risk and improve performance. Training should focus on practical, tactical topics like performance management, documentation, complaint protocols, and supervisors’ obligations. Well-designed training can encourage two-way communication, raise employee questions, and strengthen relationships. Sarah and Russell finished by stating that training overly focused on legal definitions may not change behavior, so organizations should structure training to achieve lasting improvements.
  • Events
    Navigating D.C.'s Changing Housing Landscape - Utility Billing, Pets in Housing and Year-End Legislative Updates
    Navigating D.C.'s Changing Housing Landscape - Utility Billing, Pets in Housing and Year-End Legislative Updates
  • Publications & News
    Offit Kurman’s Cheryl Hepfer Named a 2027 Lawdragon 500 Leading Family Law Lawyer
    Offit Kurman’s Cheryl Hepfer Named a 2027 Lawdragon 500 Leading Family Law Lawyer
  • Events
    AIA Tri-State Conference
    Princeton will serve as the backdrop for three days of connection, learning, and design leadership. From keynotes to tours to the Tri-State Design Awards, this year’s conference is designed to go far beyond education sessions. Kick off the week with pre-conference intensives and individual state component Design Award celebrations, followed by three days of education, inspiration, networking, and design excellence at the 2026 AIA Tri-State Conference—featuring pre-conference intensives, three keynote speakers, 25 education sessions, curated tours, an expo, spec academies, and the AIA Tri-State Design Awards—bringing together architects and design professionals from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania to connect, learn, and celebrate the best of the profession. G2. Designing Secure Practices: Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, Contractual Provisions, and Insurance Risks for Architects (4:00 PM - 5:30 PM) Architects and design professionals increasingly rely on cloud platforms, BIM software, and digital tools to manage sensitive data, creating cybersecurity and privacy risks. A single incident can trigger liability claims, regulatory obligations, reputational harm, and insurance challenges. Yet many firms underestimate how contracts, insurance, and internal practices intersect during a breach. This program offers legal and insurance perspectives on cyber risk in architecture, examining liability exposure, risky contract provisions, and mitigation strategies. A cyber insurance expert will explain policy responses, coverage gaps, coordination with professional liability, and best practices for aligning insurance with contractual risk and protecting firms from evolving cyber threats. Learning Objectives: Identify key cybersecurity and data privacy risks faced by architecture firms and explain how these risks can impact professional liability and project outcomes. Analyze common contractual provisions to determine which clauses may increase exposure to cyber incidents and propose strategies to mitigate these risks. Evaluate the scope and limitations of cyber insurance policies, including coordination with professional liability coverage, to determine how a policy would respond in a breach scenario. Develop actionable risk management strategies by integrating legal, contractual, and insurance considerations to protect sensitive client and project data.
  • Events
    The 2026 Economic, Tax, and Accounting Updates
    We are looking forward to the Mid-Atlantic CFO Roundtable's next event on November 13, 2026. This is a program with topics built for Finance Executives. We are extremely fortunate to have three excellent speakers: Dr. Daraius Irani, Vice President of Business and Public Engagement at Towson University; Mike Stankus, Tax Office Managing Principal at BDO; and Daniel Wahlberg, Managing Partner of Acclare Solutions. The economy is rapidly changing with various factors driving it. The November 3rd midterm elections may also have an impact. Our three expert presenters will discuss the ramifications of the election, and the current year updates to GAAP financial reporting and Federal and State income taxes. Please join us for what will surely be an informative and timely discussion. Meet Our Speakers: Daraius Irani, Ph.D. • Towson University Vice President, Business & Public Engagement Dr. Daraius Irani serves as Vice President of Business and Public Engagement at Towson University as well as the chief economist for the Regional Economic Studies Institute (RESI) at Towson University, a policy group providing economic, fiscal impact, and policy analysis to public and private entities.  Dr. Irani is often called upon to provide economic presentations to organizations across Maryland. He has appeared on numerous television programs and in local and regional print media. Dr. Irani holds a Ph.D. in economics from University of California, Santa Barbara. Dan Wahlberg • Acclare Solutions Managing Partner With over 28 years of experience, Dan Wahlberg is a recognized leader in audit and assurance for the Mid-Atlantic’s middle market business community. As a licensed CPA in Maryland and Virginia, Dan has led assurance practices at top regional firms, including serving as Baltimore Audit Managing Partner and Assurance Practice Leader at BDO USA in Baltimore and as Partner and member of the Management Committee at Hertzbach & Company P.A which merged into BDO in 2020. His expertise centers on delivering clarity, strategic guidance, and proactive solutions to middle-market businesses across Baltimore and beyond. His entrepreneurial spirit has led him to begin a new CPA firm this year with four other CPAs serving the business community. Dan holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Rutgers University and began his career at PWC in New York. He is also deeply engaged in the community, previously serving as President of ACG Maryland and current Board member and as Audit Committee Member for The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore.  Mike Stankus • BDO USA LLP Tax Office Managing Principal Mike Stankus is the Tax Office Managing Principal for the firm’s Baltimore office. He has more than 16 years of experience providing tax planning and preparation and management advisory services for his clients. Mike focuses on advising privately held businesses and their owners on effective growth and tax strategies. He also performs various engagements for mergers and acquisitions and complex cost accounting projects and projections. In addition, he represents various government contracting clients before the DCAA and assists with FAR compliance. Mike’s areas of concentration include working with government contractors, professional service firms, construction companies, and homebuilders.
  • Blog Posts
    When Family, Assets, and Inheritance Laws Cross Borders
    When Family, Assets, and Inheritance Laws Cross Borders
  • Publications & News
    Offit Kurman Welcomes Noussah “Vanessa” Koui to Business Law and Transactions Group
    Offit Kurman Welcomes Noussah “Vanessa” Koui to Business Law and Transactions Group
  • Blog Posts
    NJDEP Issued Your Company a Penalty. Can You Negotiate It?
    NJDEP Issued Your Company a Penalty. Can You Negotiate It?