Preti Flaherty Names Michael S. Smith as Managing Partner

Preti Flaherty announced this week the election of Michael S. Smith as the firm’s new Managing Partner, effective July 15, 2024. He succeeds David Van Slyke, who is resuming his role as chair of Preti’s Environmental Practice Group after years of service as Managing Partner.

“I’m honored and humbled to have been elected by my peers to lead Preti Flaherty, and I have big shoes to fill. David’s steady leadership and unrivaled work ethic have left our firm well-positioned for the coming years. In particular, I don’t know of any managing partner who more ably guided their firm through the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic,” said Smith. “This firm is thriving and I look forward to maintaining our momentum.”

“Preti Flaherty has always been defined by its pragmatism, and the election of a 42-year-old Managing Partner reflects the trust and confidence that our firm has placed in a new generation of partners and directors, many of whom chose to leave other firms to join us here,” said Ken Rubinstein, a Management Committee member who works from the firm’s Concord, New Hampshire and Boston, Massachusetts offices.

"My accession to this role and the composition of our Management Committee reflect a firm that is brimming with energy and ambition and is ready to launch into the next chapter of its storied history,” Smith added. “We are a top New England law firm thanks to the hard work and accomplishments of colleagues past and present and our relentless focus on bringing novel legal solutions our clients, which is one aspect of our firm that will never change."

Prior to his election as Managing Partner, Smith served as a member of Preti Flaherty’s Management Committee and as chair of its Recruitment Committee. He will remain fully engaged in his litigation practice while serving as Managing Partner.