Douglas H. Smith - Providence, RI
Attorney at Law Office of Douglas H. Smith
Business and Commercial Law Lawyers in Providence, RI
140 Reservoir Avenue Providence, RI 02907 - 3417
Providence Business and Commercial Law Lawyer
Updated: 03/02/2026
Areas of Practice
- Business and Commercial Law
- Construction Law
- Litigation and Arbitration
- Contracts
- Real Estate Law
- Elder Law
- Estate Planning and Wills
- Divorce and Family Law
- Marital Property Division
Litigation: 50%
Attorney Information
Overview
Douglas H. Smith has been a member in good standing of the Rhode Island and Massachusetts bars for over 25 years. Prior to his formal legal training, while attending Boston University, Mr. Smith worked as a summer intern at Rhode Island Legal Services in Providence. Later, while in law school, Mr. Smith was active in the Syracuse University Law Clinic Program, where he represented mostly indigent clients in various criminal and civil matters. Following his accelerated graduation from law school in 1978 on the Dean's List, Mr. Smith decided to associate himself with law firms with an excellent litigation reputation, which included over 6 years of experience working as an insurance defense lawyer handling trials and appeals on a daily basis.
Over the next 20 years, Mr. Smith broadened this litigation background to develop experience in many different areas of Rhode Island and Massachusetts law, including real estate, wills and estates, personal injury, bankruptcy, and domestic relations law.
Nonetheless, during this entire time, the primary focus of Mr. Smith's law office has not changed, which is to maintain a successful and rewarding legal practice through delivery of a quality legal product to one satisfied client after another.
Education
-
Legal Education
-
Syracuse University College of Law,
Syracuse,
New York, 1978
J.D.
Honors: Dean's List
-
Syracuse University College of Law,
Syracuse,
New York, 1978
-
Non Legal Education
-
Boston University,
Boston,
Massachusetts, 1976
B.A.
Honors: cum laude
-
Boston University,
Boston,
Massachusetts, 1976
Representative Cases
-
Title Investments v. City of Providence
- Citation: 20020150
- Court: R.I. Supreme Court
-
Lombardi v. R.I. Insolvency Fund
- Citation: 98-542-A
- Court: R.I. Supreme Court
-
Gaudreau v. Blasbalg
- Citation: 91-0583-A
- Court: RI Supreme Court
-
Hayhurst v. LaFlamme
- Citation: 79-428-A
- Court: RI Supreme Court
-
Joseph v. Rosa
- Citation: 82-432-A
- Court: RI Supreme Court
-
Camerlin v. Marshall
- Citation: 91-SJC-5633
- Court: Mass. Supreme Judicial Court
-
Ames v. RIHTNB
- Citation: 88-8919
- Court: WCC App. Div.
-
Curtain v. Lataille
- Citation: 85-301-A
- Court: RI Supreme Court
-
Lemoi v. Nationwide
- Citation: 80-538-A
- Court: RI Supreme Court
-
Borrelli v. Nationwide
- Citation: 83-12-A
- Court: RI Supreme Court
-
Mann v. Calderone
- Citation: 83-402-A
- Court: RI Supreme Court
-
Lacey v. Edgewood Home Builders
- Citation: 79-445-A
- Court: RI Supreme Court
-
Arlan v. Cervini
- Citation: 82-86-A
- Court: RI Supreme Court
-
Nationwide v. LaFazia
- Citation: 82-453-A
- Court: RI Supreme Court
-
Bush v. Nationwide
- Citation: 80-119-A
- Court: RI Supreme Court
-
Sylvia v. Sylvia
- Citation: 79-388-A
- Court: RI Supreme Court
-
HSIM Assoc. v. Kalian
- Citation: 85-335-A
- Court: RI Supreme Court
Other Affiliations
- R.I. Bar Association, 1979
- Massachusetts Bar Association, 1979
- R.I. Title Standards Committee
- R.I. Family Court Bench Bar Committee
- R.I. Family Court (Real Estate Commissioner)
- R.I. Superior Court (Real Estate Commissioner)
- R.I. Superior Court (Receiver)
- R.I. Superior Court (Trustee)
- R.I. Superior Court (Guardian)
Contact
140 Reservoir Avenue
Providence, RI 02907 - 3417
Phone: 401-400-4325
Email: Send a message
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Evening and weekend hours by special appointment
Disclaimer
Your Profile? Update Now
When viewing a listing, consider the state advertising restrictions to which lawyers and law firms must adhere, as well as our FindLaw.com Legal Directory disclaimer. Some lawyers publish comparative information regarding the services that they provide which may be subject to specific comparative communications restrictions.
How do I choose a lawyer?
Consider the following:
- Comfort Level – Are you comfortable telling the lawyer personal information? Does the lawyer seem interested in solving your problem?
- Credentials – How long has the lawyer been in practice? Has the lawyer worked on other cases similar to yours?
- Cost – How are the lawyer's fees structured — hourly or flat fee? Can the lawyer estimate the cost of your case?
- City – Is the lawyer's office conveniently located?
Not sure what questions to ask a lawyer?
Here are a few to get you started:
- How long have you been in practice?
- How many cases like mine have you handled?
- How often do you settle cases out of court?
- What are your fees and costs?
- What are the next steps?
Want to check lawyer discipline?
It is always a good idea to research your lawyer prior to hiring. Every state has a disciplinary organization that monitors attorneys, their licenses, and consumer complaints. By researching lawyer discipline you can:
- Ensure the attorney is currently licensed to practice in your state
- Gain an understanding of his or her historical disciplinary record, if any.
- Determine the seriousness of complaints/issues which could range from late bar fees to more serious issues requiring disciplinary action.