Atty. Francis J. Smith

Atty. Francis J. Smith

Fran is a partner concentrating his practice in the areas of commercial creditors’ rights, commercial litigation, and appellate practice. In his commercial creditor’s rights practice, Fran represents commercial lenders in all areas involving troubled loans, including workouts and mortgage foreclosures Fran is a member of the New York State Bar Association, Commercial Litigation Section, and the Capital Region Bankruptcy Bar Association.

Latham Latham 45 yrs experience 45 year
Call (518) 462-5601 Email Book Appointment

Profile Summary

About Francis J. Smith at a glance

Francis J. Smith is a Shareholder based in Latham, New York, practicing at O'Connell and Aronowitz, P.C.. They have 45+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1981. Their practice focuses on business, creditor rights, litigation, and appellate. Admitted to practice in New York (1981), U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit (1994), and U.S. Supreme Court (2004). Educated at Albany Law School of Union University (J.D., 1980) and Siena College (B.A., 1977). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Serands clients in Latham, NY and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Fran is a partner concentrating his practice in the areas of commercial creditors’ rights, commercial litigation, and appellate practice
  • In his commercial creditor’s rights practice, Fran represents commercial lenders in all areas involving troubled loans, including workouts and mortgage foreclosures Fran is a member of the New York State Bar Association, Commercial Litigation Section, and the Capital Region Bankruptcy Bar Association
  • Fran is the editor of the Mortgage Foreclosures chapter of the New York State Bar Association Practical Skills Series
  • Prior to joining O’Connell & Aronowitz, P.C., Fran was a partner with the firm of McNamee Lochner P.C
  • Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Smith spent eight years with the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department, the last six of which were spent as confidential law clerk to the Honorable A. Franklin Mahoney, Presiding Justice of that court

Practice Areas Explained

Francis J. Smith's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Francis J. Smith handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Business & Corporate Law

Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.

Francis J. Smith is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in New York →

Creditor Rights & Collections

Francis J. Smith is one of 42,948 creditor rights attorneys indexed nationally. Browse creditor rights attorneys in New York →

Civil Litigation

Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.

Francis J. Smith is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in New York →

Appellate Practice

Appellate attorneys for civil and criminal appeals at state and federal court.

Francis J. Smith is one of 86,319 appellate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse appellate attorneys in New York →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in New York

Practicing law in New York. Legal matters in New York are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Latham are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate New York state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in New York brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in New York courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional New York attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Latham or all attorneys in New York.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Francis J. Smith

Where is Francis J. Smith's law office located?
Francis J. Smith's law practice is located in Latham, New York. The firm is O'Connell and Aronowitz, P.C.. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Francis J. Smith handle?
Francis J. Smith focuses on business, creditor rights, litigation, appellate. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in New York.
How long has Francis J. Smith practiced law?
Francis J. Smith has 45+ years of legal experience and has been licensed since 1981.
Where did Francis J. Smith go to law school?
Francis J. Smith earned their education at (J.D., 1980); (B.A., 1977).
How can I contact Francis J. Smith for a consultation?
You can contact Francis J. Smith directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Francis J. Smith received?
Francis J. Smith's notable recognition includes: AV Preeminent.

Education

J.D.
Albany Law School of Union University
- 1980
B.A.
Siena College
- 1977

Awards

AV Preeminent

Bar Admissions

New York
Admitted: 1981
U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
Admitted: 1994
U.S. Supreme Court
Admitted: 2004

Reviews

4.9
3 Review
5 0
4 0
3 0
2 0
1 0
These reviews belong to platform users; they do not constitute advertisement or promotion for the attorney. Opinions are published for informational purposes only.

No reviews yet.