Michael Ray Smith - Indianapolis, IN
Attorney at Harshman Ponist Smith & Rayl, LLC
Business Law Lawyers in Indianapolis, IN
3650 N Washington Blvd Indianapolis, IN 46205
- Free Consultation
Indianapolis Business Law Lawyer
Updated: 03/10/2026
Areas of Practice
- Business Law
- Estate Planning
- Civil Litigation (Business Litigation, Appeals)
- Criminal Defense (Appeals and Post Conviction Relief)
Attorney Information
Overview
Attorney Michael Ray Smith, who has been an Indiana attorney for more than 25 years, sometimes explains that he is in his third career. His first career was as a chemical engineer with Eli Lilly and Company after graduating from Vanderbilt University. From 1978 through 1993 (with two years out to get a master's degree in chemical engineering from Purdue University), he worked in manufacturing and process development areas and as a department head of biochemical engineering. He completed law school while he was working full time in those positions.
Mike's second career began when he finished law school in 1993 and joined Lilly's Law Division as in-house counsel, where his responsibilities included environmental law, securities, and commercial transactions. While working as an attorney with Lilly's commercial transactions group, he worked on a variety of strategic sourcing initiatives, joint ventures, and other transactions. He also developed a system for writing and maintaining contract templates for use by the company's procurement professionals in areas as diverse as laboratory research, construction, advertising, and market research.
Mike began his third career in 2008 as a business lawyer in private practice, when he left Lilly and opened a solo practice in Fishers, Indiana, known as Michael Smith Law Office, LLC, focusing on business and commercial transactions, limited liability companies (or LLCs), corporations and corporate law, nonprofit organizations, and estate planning. In 2009, the name of the firm changed to Smith Rayl Law Office, LLC when he was joined by Attorney Susan Rayl, who opened an office in Indianapolis practicing criminal defense. Mr. Smith brings this extensive business law experience to Hand Ponist, where he concentrates on providing personal service and practical advice to businesses, especially small businesses, their owners, and nonprofit organizations.
Michael also has a passion for teaching. While he was at Lilly, he developed and taught several training courses for Lilly personnel, including an extensive course in contract law for Lilly's procurement organization. After he left Lilly, he supervised law students in an externship program jointly conducted by the Community Development Law Center and the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, and for two years he served as an Adjunct Professor at the same school, teaching Contract Drafting to second year law students. He has taught continuing legal education courses for the Indiana State Bar Association and the National Business Institute, mostly in contract law and limited liability companies.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- 2004 Heartland Pro Bono Award, Heartland Pro Bono Council, Indiana
Education
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Legal Education
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Indiana University School of Law,
Indianapolis,
Indiana, 1993
J.D.
Honors: summa cum laude
Law Review: Indiana Law Review, Note Development Editor
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Indiana University School of Law,
Indianapolis,
Indiana, 1993
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Non Legal Education
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Vanderbilt University, 1978
B.E.
Honors: summa cum laude
Major: Chemical Engineering -
Purdue University, 1982
M.S.
Honors: Thesis research in technology related to artificial kidneys
Major: Chemical Engineering
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Vanderbilt University, 1978
Current Employment Position(s)
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Partner
Past Positions
- Eli Lilly and Co., Dept., Head Biochemical Engineering, 1990 - 1991
- Eli Lilly and Co., Patent Assoc., 1989 - 1990
- Eli Lilly and Co., Chemical Engineer
Classes and Seminars
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Adjunct Professor, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, Nonprofit Externship Program, 2009, Contract Drafting, 2010-12
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Indiana State Bar Association, Solo/Small Firm Conference, 2016
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Minority Ownership in Closely Held Companies
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National Business Institute, 2015
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Single and Multi Member LLC Top Mistakes to Avoid
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LLC State Law Update
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Indiana State Bar Association, Solo/Small Firm Conference, 2015
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Nuts and Bolts of Business Formation
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Indiana State Bar Association Annual Meeting, 2015
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Perspectives from Those Who Negotiate, Litigate, and Decide National Business Institute, 2013
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What Estate Planners Need to Know about LLC Formation
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National Business Institute, 2011
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Business Contracts from A to Z
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Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis Solutions Center, 2009
- Strategic Alliances for Nonprofit Organizations
Pro Bono Activities
- Contract Attorney, Community Development Law Center - Indianapolis, IN
- Former Director and President, Community Development Law Center - Indianapolis, IN
- Eli Lilly and Company Law Division Pro Bono Program, Founder
- Indianapolis Legal Aid Society, Former Volunteer Attorney
Bar Admissions
- Indiana, 1994
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana, 1994
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana, 1994
- U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit, 1995
Other Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- Indiana State Bar Association
- Indianapolis Bar Association
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers
Photo
Contact
3650 N Washington Blvd
Indianapolis, IN 46205
Phone: 317-550-4492
Fax: 317-755-0314
Email: Send a message
Website: https://www.hpindiana.law/
Hours: M-F 8:30am - 5pm
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