Avery joined the firm as a paralegal in May of 2022. Prior to joining the firm, Avery graduated from the University of Florida with his bachelor’s degree in marketing in December 2021 and his master’s degree in international business in May 2022. Avery enrolled at Stetson University College of Law in the fall of 2023.
During his time at Stetson, he served as a member of the Stetson Moot Court Board, Assistant Managing Editor of the Stetson Business Law Review, a teaching assistant in civil procedure, Senior Deputy Chief of Mentoring on the Stetson Law Ambassadors, and president of the Stetson Space Law Society. Additionally, in spring of 2025, Avery completed a federal judicial externship with the Honorable Magistrate Lindsay Griffin at the U.S. District Court in the Middle District of Florida.
In Spring of 2026, Avery wrote an article for the Stetson Business Law Review regarding the fiduciary capacity exception to bankruptcy discharge and its effects on LLC formation in Florida. His article was later selected as a Student Spotlight and is viewable below. As a result, Avery was the recipient of the Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association Judge Alexander Paskay Scholarship and the Stetson College of Law Judge Alexander Paskay Bankruptcy Award for his work on his article, in addition to his academic achievements in his bankruptcy courses.
In May of 2026, Avery graduated from Stetson cum laude and finished in the top 15% of his class. Most recently, Avery completed the July 2026 Florida Bar Exam and is awaiting his results.
J.D., cum laude, Stetson University College of Law, 2026
MIB, Master of International Business, University of Florida, 2022
B.S., Marketing, University of Florida, 2021
Co-Manager Fraud Should Not Be Dischargeable: Why the Fiduciary Duties of Fla. Stat. §605.04091 Should Meet the Eleventh Circuit's Test for Fiduciary Capacity Exception, Avery J. Smith, Stetson Business Law Review, Student Spotlight Article Read Article Here
Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association Judge Alexander Paskay Scholarship, 2026
Stetson College of Law Judge Alexander Paskay Bankruptcy Award, 2026
Best Brief, NY City Bar National Moot Court Competition, 2024