Kerri Smith is a member of the Firm’s Real Estate Group, specializing in commercial and residential real estate for landlords, tenants, business owners, property management companies, and real property owners. Her practice spans development, construction, leasing, and management across various property types. She is a skilled litigator with extensive experience in federal and state courts. 

Ms. Smith has significant experience in landlord-tenant law, including issues associated with federal and state subsidies (Section 8, project-based, LIHTC, HOME Program, RAD properties, Supportive Housing for the Elderly, and public housing conversions). She is an expert in this niche area of real estate law and is constantly informed of and deeply proficient in landlord-tenant law’s constant local, state, and federal changes to best serve her clients. 

Ms. Smith is known by her clients and throughout the legal community as organized, prepared, and reliable. Over her tenure as a Maryland real estate attorney, she has developed excellent rapport with many judges, courthouse staff, and other attorneys, and she is frequently called upon to provide advice and guidance on questions involving landlord tenant law.  

Ms. Smith is very active in the local and legal community and has been involved with local, state, and national bar associations for over 10 years, developing strong relationships with the Maryland legal community. She serves in numerous leadership roles for the Bar Association of Baltimore City, Maryland State Bar Association, and American Bar Association. 

A consistent recipient of legal and community-based awards and recognition, Ms. Smith was notably named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women by the Daily Record in 2021 which recognizes high-achieving Maryland women who are making an impact through their leadership, community service, and mentoring. In 2023, she was named one of the Top 40 Young Lawyers in the nation by the American Bar Association, recognizing young lawyers who exemplify a broad range of high achievement, innovation, vision, leadership, and legal and community service.  

Ms. Smith graduated magna cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 2012 where she was Senior Staff on the University of Baltimore Law Review and served as a Research Assistant preparing an administrative law textbook for publication. Ms. Smith was also a Judicial Intern for the Honorable Joseph F. Murphy Jr. in 2010 while Judge Murphy sat on the Court of Appeals of Maryland. 

Ms. Smith has been with Silverman Thompson for her legal career, rising from a law clerk to an associate, to now a member, where she leads the Firm’s community service initiatives alongside her robust real estate practice. 

Assistant

Davonda Heyward
410.385.2225
dheyward@silvermanthompson.com

Education
  • University of Baltimore School of Law - J.D. - 2012

    Magna Cum Laude

  • St. Mary's College of Maryland - B.A. - 2009

    Cum Laude

Practice Areas
  • Administrative Law
  • Contract Litigation
  • General Civil Litigation
  • Real Estate
  • Leasing - Commercial & Residential
  • Landlord/Tenant
  • Property Management
Honors/Awards/Appointments
  • Edward F. Shea, Jr. Professionalism Award, Maryland Bar Foundation, 2024
  • On the Rise - Top 40 Young Lawyers, American Bar Association, 2023
  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Litigation - Real Estate; Administrative/Regulatory Law, Real Estate, 2022, 2023
  • Maryland Super Lawyers - Rising Star, Real Estate, 2023
  • Maryland's Top 100 Women, The Daily Record, 2021
  • Presidential Award, Bar Association of Baltimore City, 2019
  • Sustained Leadership Award, Young Lawyers' Division of the Bar Association of Baltimore City, 2018
  • Leadership in Law - Generation J.D. Award, The Daily Record, 2018
  • Rising Star, Living Classrooms Foundation, 2013
Community Service
Captain and Wingman, Athletes Serving Athletes
Dean’s Committee, CollegeBound Foundation
Publications

“The ‘Keys’ to Repossession: Advocating for a Residential Landlord in Rent Court”, The Advocate, Maryland State Bar Association, Young Lawyer Section, Volume 27: Number 3 (Spring 2012).

Professional & Bar Association Memberships
  • Bar Association of Baltimore City

    Member Since: 2012

    Co-Chair, National Adoption Day Committee, 2023-Present
    Appointed Member, Judicial Selections Committee, 2020-Present
    Chair, Events Committee, 2018-Present
    Chair, Young Lawyer's Division, 2017-2018
    Chair-Elect, Young Lawyers' Division, 2016-2017
    Treasurer, Young Lawyers' Division, 2015-2016
    Secretary, Young Lawyers' Division, 2014-2015
    Member, Bench-Bar Committee, 2015-Present

  • Maryland State Bar Association

    Member Since: 2012

    Chair, Young Lawyers' Section, 2022-2023
    Young Lawyers' Section Representative, Board of Governors, 2022-2023
    Chair-Elect, Young Lawyers' Section, 2021-2022
    Treasurer, Young Lawyers' Section, 2020-2021
    District Representative to the Young Lawyers' Division of the American Bar Association, 2019-2021
    Chair, Business Development Committee for Young Lawyers' Section, 2018-2019
    First District (Baltimore City) Representative, Board of Governors, 2018-2020
    Baltimore City Circuit Representative, Young Lawyers' Section, 2015-2018
    Member, Special Committee on Recent Law School Graduates, 2013-2015

  • Baltimore Bar Foundation

    Chair-Elect, Board of Trustees, 2024-2025
    Treasurer, Board of Trustees, 2023-2024
    Chair, Investments Committee, Board of Trustees, 2023-Present
    Secretary, Board of Trustees, 2022-2023
    Board of Trustees, 2018-Present
    Life Fellow, 2017-Present

  • American Bar Association

    Member Since: 2017

    Member Since: 2017
    Delegate (State of Maryland), House of Delegates, 2023-2025
    Eighth District (Maryland and Virginia) Representative, Young Lawyers' Division, 2019-2021
    Young Lawyers' Division Liaison to the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Sections (TIPS) regarding Ethics and Professionalism, 2018-2019

  • Maryland Access to Justice Commission

    Commissioner, 2021-2022

  • Urban Land Institute
  • NAIOP, Commercial Real Estate Development Association, DC|MD Chapter

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