James Smith, Jr.

Jim also has a deep understanding of how to run effective community meetings, having worked with community leaders and legislators on area plans and with homeowners and developers to facilitate the approval and transfer of title to private open space, as well as to resolve issues affecting their communities.

Prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg, Jim served as the assistant general manager of the New Castle County Department of Land Use, where he oversaw many of the department’s operations, including assessment and geographical information systems (GIS), code enforcement, community governing, and planning. In each of those areas, he routinely resolved complex issues and helped others to understand and navigate state and county land use laws. He also drafted legislation for the Unified Development Code, Property Maintenance Code, and Residential Rental Properties Code and regularly presented before internal and external boards and advisory committees, business and civic groups, and New Castle County Council.

During law school, Jim was a summer law clerk for the Honorable Howard F. Riley, Jr.

Jim is not regularly admitted to practice in the local courts of Delaware.