Adrian Smith is the Director of the VOLS Microenterprise Project, where he leads efforts to provide free transactional legal support to small business owners and entrepreneurs across New York City. His work is grounded in a commitment to economic justice. Adrian has 15 years of experience practicing corporate law, including advising businesses on matters involving governance, compliance, and complex transactions. A former partner at Akerman LLP, Adrian has worked extensively with pro bono teams across a variety of commercial matters.
Adrian is a 2020 Legal Council for Legal Diversity Fellow. He has JD from New York University School of Law, a BA in Economics and Philosophy from the University of Chicago, and an MSc in Philosophy, Policy, and Social Value from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Prior to entering the legal profession, Adrian worked in education at Hales Franciscan High School in Chicago and The SEED Public Charter School of Washington, D.C., experiences that continue to inform his community-centered approach. A longtime Brooklyn resident, Adrian is an avid student of nature, history, fitness, and martial arts.