Darryl Smith brings more than 15 years of experience representing a broad range of clients in connection with capital markets transactions and compliance with federal securities laws. Within these areas, Darryl has a strong background advising electric utilities—particularly electric cooperatives—and investment banks.
With a focus on transactional matters such as the issuance of debt securities through taxable and tax-exempt offerings, federally-registered offerings (including shelf-registrations), and exempt offerings such as Rule 144A/Regulation S offerings, private and direct placements and conduit bond financings, Darryl also counsels clients regarding their ongoing regulatory compliance with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) reporting obligations.
His clients’ transactions have primarily financed energy and public infrastructure projects. More specifically, Darryl has been involved in over 70 public and private financings that raised an aggregate of more than $14 billion of capital. Over the course of these transactions, Darryl has served clients in various capacities, including company counsel, underwriter’s counsel, bond counsel and US securities law counsel for several international offerings.
In addition to his extensive securities and finance practices, Darryl also advises clients on a wide array of general corporate matters, including corporate governance, asset purchases and supply agreements.
Darryl’s previous experience includes working in various sales and management positions for the Cintas Corporation as well as with the risk arbitrage group for a boutique investment bank. This background helps Darryl provide valuable insight into the business concerns of his clients.
- Serving as Georgia counsel to a US government agency regarding potential TIFIA loan for PPP project.
- Represented a state authority on a TIFIA loan and bond issue for toll road projects.
- Advised Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC) throughout the process of remarketing $94,465,000 Development Authority of Burke County Pollution Control Revenue Bonds (GTC Vogtle Project) Series 2012.
- Represented a prominent secondary market lender in connection with two NYSE-listed preferred shares offerings totaling nearly $200 million.
- Advised a water and sewerage authority on three direct placements of tax-exempt bonds, totaling more than $380 million.
- Greenwashing Litigation and the Proposed SEC Climate Disclosure Rule: What Every Co-op Should Know, March 28, 2023
- Current Trends in Renewable Energy – Greenwashing, ESG and the Inflation Reduction Act, November 11, 2022, Houston Bar Association
- Preparing for the SEC's climate disclosure rule, November 3, 2022, Association of Corporate Counsel Chicago
- Preparing for the SEC’s climate disclosure rule, September 22, 2022, Climate Week NYC
- Climate Risk Disclosures for U.S. Companies, November 3, 2021, ACC/EBA Joint Program
- Financing the Energy Transition through Debt Capital Markets, September 21, 2021,
Climate Week NYC
- Demystifying Green Bonds, June 24, 2021
- ESG and Green Finance 101, April 27, 2021
- ESG: A Stakeholders Perspective, November 19, 2020, Energy Bar Association
- Environmental Social Governance (ESG), November 4, 2020, G&T Legal Seminar
- Debt Infrastructure Investments, January 31, 2019, Americas Infrastructure Dialogue 2019
- Panelist – Raising Capital in the US “Soup to Nuts,” April 2018, Association of Corporate Counsel, Houston
- Recognized by Chambers USA: Guide to Leading Business Lawyers in the area of energy (2023)
- Recognized by Legal 500 United States in the area of energy transactions: conventional power (2021, 2023)
- Recipient, Securities Regulation Book Award, University of Florida Levin College of Law
- Recipient, Land Finance Book Award, University of Florida Levin College of Law
- Recipient, Partnership Tax Book Award, University of Florida Levin College of Law
- Recipient, Evidence Book Award, University of Florida Levin College of Law
- Member, National Association of Bond Lawyers
- Participant, The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program
- Participant, State Bar of Georgia Military Legal Assistance Program
- Florida
- Georgia
- New York
- B.S., Cornell University
- J.D., magna cum laude, University of Florida Levin College of Law,
Research Editor, Florida Law Review, Order of the Coif