ELDER AMOS SMITH
PROFESSIONAL CAREER
Attorney September 1996 – Present
Law Offices of Amos Smith Chicago, IL & Atlanta, GA
National Trustee November 2008 – Present
The National Board of Trustees – Church of God in Christ, Inc. Memphis, Tennessee
Board Member January 2009 – December 2012
The Publishing Board for the Church of God in Christ, Inc. Memphis, Tennessee
Partner January 1, 2007 – September 2009
Barclay, Dixon & Smith P.C. Chicago, Illinois
Legal Instructor October 1996- December 1998
American Institute for Paralegal Studies Chicago, Illinois
Attorney & Consultant October 1995- October 1996
Ernst & Young LLP Chicago, Illinois
Attorney & Consultant September 1992-August 1994
Arthur Andersen & Co. St. Louis, Missouri
EDUCATION
Juris Doctorate May 1992
University of Missouri Columbia, Missouri
Bachelors of Education May 1988
University of Missouri Columbia, Missouri
PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Assisted with the merger of First Chicago and NBD Bank, presently known as Chase Bank.
- Drafted Qualified and Non-Qualified Retirement Plans for numerous clients.
- Legal Counsel for City of Chicago Transit Authority – $250,000,000.00 Bond Transaction.
- Worked with Attorney Johnnie Cochran in wrongful death matter.
- Represented Probate estates valued over $1,000,000.00 and filed relevant tax returns.
- Obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars in real estate tax refunds and savings for non-profits.
- Used Legal Exception Rule to allow a church to acquire property valued at $250,000.00 for $1.
- Represented and advised religious trustee boards of numerous religious organizations.
- Legal Presenter for Church of God in Christ, Inc., Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, National Baptist Convention, Progressive National Baptist and other national organizations on tax matters.
- Provided legal representation for churches and pastors before the Internal Revenue Services.
- Obtained $400,000.00 judgment against a member who embezzled funds from a not for profit.
- Facilitated the acquisition of a Chicago landmark theater valued at over $4,000,000.00.
- Served as General Counsel for several religious denominations and institutions.
- Represented Not for Profit Organizations in numerous controversies.
- Represented Clients with regards to estate planning, will, trusts, probate and taxation matters.
FAMILY LIFE
- Married to Lisa Winters-Smith MD since July 1996
- Father of 2 sons, Amos Jeffrey Smith and Austin Phillip Smith
- Former President and Fundraising Chairperson for The Cambridge School of Chicago
- Former Fundraising Chairperson for The Chicago South Swim Club
BAR MEMBERSHIP
Illinois