Smith, Thomas G.

Michael C. Smith is a partner in the law firm of Siebman, Burg, Phillips & Smith, LLP.  Michael manages the firm's office in his hometown of Marshall, Texas, where he specializes in assisting companies and firms involved in litigation in federal court, particularly patent and other complex commercial litigation. 

Michael has appeared as counsel in over 400 civil cases in federal court in the Eastern District of Texas and has argued a number of cases at the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.  He is a frequent speaker at seminars on topics including federal court practice, discovery, expert testimony, contribution and indemnity issues, and product liability and intellectual property litigation, and has been quoted on the subject of the Eastern District's patent docket in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Dallas Morning News, Austin American Statesman, and legal publications including IP Law & Business, Texas Lawyer, Corporate Counsel, Lawyers Weekly, and numerous other publications.

Michael served as chairman of the Local Rules Advisory Committee for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas from 2000-2009, and edits the O'Connor's Federal Rules * Civil Trials handbook on federal court practice.  He also maintains the nationally recognized www.EDTexweblog.com web log devoted to Eastern District of Texas federal court practice.  He recently completed a three year term as an elected member of the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors representing the 25 counties of district 1 (northeast Texas).  He was recognized with the Outstanding Third Year Director award and a Presidential Citation for his work on the State Bar Board, where he chaired the Member Services and Education committee for two years.  Michael has also been recognized in the Texas Super Lawyers publications in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Michael is a past president of the Eastern District of Texas Bar Association, the Harrison County Bar Association, and the East Texas Trial Lawyers Association.  He also currently serves as Chair of the Board of Editors of the Texas Bar Journal and as Vice Chair of the State Bar of Texas Litigation Section Council.

Michael received his bachelor's degree from East Texas State University, his master's degree in public administration from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, and his law degree from Baylor University.  During graduate school, Mr. Smith worked at several state and federal agencies in Washington, D.C. and Austin, Texas, and prior to entering private practice was a law clerk for the late U.S. District Judge Sam B. Hall, Jr. of the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall and Texarkana Divisions.  

Michael has been active in community affairs in Marshall, including serving on the Marshall City Commission for three terms (1996-2002) as well as on numerous local boards and committees, including the Marshall Planning & Zoning Commission, the Courthouse Preservation Committee (courtroom renovation committee chair), the Citizens Advisory Committee (president, 2008-2009) and the Marshall Chamber of Commerce board of directors.  He recently renovated the historic Hub Shoe Store in downtown Marshall into offices for SBPS Marshall activities.

Michael is married to Jamie Noland Smith, who is currently serving her fifth four-year term as Harrison County Treasurer .  Michael and Jamie have three sons, Grayson, 11, and twins Collin and Parker, 8.  Michael is also the author of books on Essex and Independence class World War II aircraft carriers, and maintains a personal weblog Puttering in the Study.