Frank Smith - Cofounder + Director + Inhouse Counsel
Institutional Private Equity, Investment Banking, Capital Markets
Investment Banking + Capital Markets + Structured Finance + Real Estate Ventures + Traditional / Renewable Energy + Startups
FRANK’S BIO
New York / Florida Licensed Attorney
Frank co-founded Kevlar to exploit Frank is a co-founder who serves as inhouse counsel for Kevlar Venture Group, Inc. providing strategic expertise in support of the company’s business growth. Frank was raised on Long Island (Merrick) in New York in a traditional family setting with both of his parents and 2 younger sisters. Frank attended college at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Having spent his undergraduate studies concentrating on Biology and Religious Studies, Frank chose to
become a lawyer when he embraced his love of the “art” of negotiation, argument, and the deal. Frank is married to his best friend who is a full business partner – Ruth Smith, his wife of 29 years whom he met in law school. Frank and Ruth pride themselves on raising their two children, Martina (29) and Bryan (26) and believe that faith and family are paramount and all-encompassing in life.
Frank brings the same faith and passion to the practice of law, and it is fundamental that each of his clients know they can count on him for representation and advice in all aspects of their life. Having graduated from Hofstra Law School in 1993, Frank brings more than 30 years of legal experience working across multiple industries, international law, business, banking, real estate development, capital markets, structured finance, etc. He is an accomplished powerhouse, and a trusted resource evidenced by a roster of long-term, loyal clients.
Frank initially started his legal career in the highly cutthroat landlord/tenant courts throughout New York City, some of the busiest courts in the United States. From there, he expanded his practice to include commercial litigation and ultimately became a true business lawyer; one of the very few who practices both transactional work and litigation. Although based in Florida for the past 20 years, Frank continues to practice law in New York, as well as throughout the United States and Internationally. Frank, who is a “roll up your sleeves” person, generally lives in blue jeans and a t-shirt, and has remained humble and true to his roots. Many years ago, Frank was introduced to Tony Sparks a visionary in the infrastructure and aviation/maritime services industry globally. They discovered a shared passion for changing the world and true hatred of all thing’s child sex trafficking – www.phantomservices.com That was the start of a great friendship and each year, a substantial portion of Frank’s time is spent working with charities like Phantom Rescue (founded by Mr. Sparks), and their endeavors in eradicating child sex trafficking. Frank is a key Board Member of Phantom Rescue and Counsel for Phantom Services. He is a key member of (and general counsel to) the Phantom organizations for both Domestic and International Operations and he is a driving visionary for Phantom International. The growth plan of Phantom Services is dependent on Frank’s direct day-to-day involvement, and his work in Phantom Rescue is a cornerstone of the organization’s success. Over the years the “Phantom” organizations have grown from Phantom Services and Phantom Rescue, to include Phantom International, Phantom Air (a Part 135), the Phantom International Foundation, Phantom Energy Solutions, with new companies in development into stable operating entities. Frank continues to be a key member of (and general counsel to) the Phantom organizations for both Domestic and International Operations and remains a driving visionary for Phantom International. Frank ensures that Phantom maintains a pristine record and helps navigate the substantial compliance hurdles that exist for a multinational entity like Phantom. In the last few years, Frank has been brought into to address the wind-down of a large California aircraft manufacturing facility, has diligently assisted Phantom in its FAA requirements, and is currently consulting a helicopter manufacturer who is in process of relocating to the United States. Further, Frank continues to serve as general counsel to the various Phantom entities and their international forays and endeavors.
In his lengthy legal career, Frank has been fortunate to work with many highly reputable companies. For many years he counseled a company that produced a large percentage of the hand tools sold by Home Depot; this led to many other clients specializing in branding, marketing, manufacturing, and distribution of consumer products. As general counsel for the tool company, Frank became familiar with manufacturing goods overseas, importation and exportation, issues surrounding customs, duties, and freight, as well as an understanding of international intellectual property laws and rules. He has also been instrumental in assisting multi-dollar privately held entities resolve their intra-family corporate governance disputes, assisting a foreign bank to realize a profit in excess of fifty million dollars on a failed business deal, and has won millions of dollars for corporations that filed suit for breaches of contract. Frank also continued to expand his practice in the traditional areas of transactional work and litigation; as well adding clients specializing in real estate development, commodities, petroleum, and energy. Over time, Frank, sought out new and relevant fields of law, and in additional to his general practice, began working with companies in various fields including representing clients in professional sports, esports, the tattoo world, multiple hospitals throughout the United States specializing in rural healthcare, and several cast members of both scripted and non-scripted entertainment. Frank also remains a “go-to” guy for other attorneys to turn to when they have an “unsolvable” problem.
In dealing with various international development deals, Frank has also had to delve into the currency world including trade finance, crypto-currencies, sovereign-currencies, historical assets, and the various laws and rules surrounding the interplay between crypto-currency and the banking system. Coupling this knowledge with Phantom’s operations has required a broad understanding of the interplay between the IMF, the World Bank, the various country-based currencies in the world, and how they all work together as affecting the financial world. Frank’s legal and business experience has required an understanding of both regulated and “off-book” assets, especially relevant in today’s day and age.
Additionally, Frank has always had a passion for Professional Wrestling and MMA, which helped him gain the trust and respect of many prominent fighters and professional athletes, who routinely sought his counsel. Frank was always a huge fan of wrestling and professional fighting, but when he started bringing his own kids to the ring, counseling wrestlers “on the side,” he was accepted as one of the insiders, and one of only a handful of lawyers who have any knowledge of the wrestling space. Having handled thousands of negotiations and running into numerous athletes all of whom were having issues with either their agents or their business partners, Frank began to represent athletes and entertainers, first as their attorney, and later as business advisor and agent. Frank started with several NFL players, some MLB players and later counseled more than 80 professional wrestlers and mixed martial artists. When several of Frank’s clients wound-up on television, Frank also had to learn the ins and outs of the business of television and media production.
Frank’s areas of legal practice include civil, administrative, and criminal litigation, as well as legal services related to banking, finance, contracts, corporate governance, compliance, insurance, employment and human resources issues, real estate, mergers and acquisitions and the creation and protection of intellectual property. To preserve the “counselor” side of the practice, Frank operates as general practitioner, handling all of his clients’ needs inclusive of serving as “concierge attorney” when matters are outside of his expertise. One of Frank’s greatest attributes is his ability to say, “I don’t know,” but then to follow it up with, “but I know where to find the answer.”
Proud of his county and known for bleeding red, white, and blue, Frank’s fundamental sense of right and wrong has led him to champion causes where peoples’ constitutional rights are being threatened or affected. Frank believes there when dealing with a person’s rights, it is incumbent on each person to do what they can to protect those who would otherwise be defenseless absent help from others. When all else fails, Frank still has faith that it is his calling to support his clients through thick and thin, ensuring they can lead happy, healthy, and productive lives. Frank’s background in Eastern philosophy/religion has yielded his mantra of “Keeping Your Legal World In Balance.”
Expanding beyond the legal field over the past several years, through Phantom and now as a Kevlar Venture Group (www.kevlarventuregroup.com) cofounder, Frank has now embraced a new calling. Frank credits his relationship with Tony Sparks for this new calling and believes the remainder of his career will be working side-by-side with Phantom and Kevlar. Through these two organizations Frank and Ruth will collaborate to achieve their long-range ambitions to bring economic growth, venture development, stability, peace, and prosperity to the world.
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