Levi J. Smith

Levi is the chair of the firm’s Debt Finance practice group and co-chairs the firm’s Food and Agribusiness practice group. He is an experienced finance and corporate lawyer and represents clients in a variety of complex transactional matters. Levi has particular expertise working with commercial lenders, private equity sponsors, cooperatives and agribusinesses.

Levi advises commercial lenders in all aspects of debt finance transactions. Levi also represents borrowers in debt finance transactions, including private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies. Levi has experience with a wide range of financings and has documented and negotiated acquisition financings, real estate loans, senior and mezzanine debt, and secured and unsecured loans.

Levi also represents cooperatives and agribusinesses, drawing on his background in agriculture to contribute perspective and business knowledge. Levi has significant experience with governance, financing and operational issues relevant to cooperatives and agribusinesses, including the structuring, formation and operation of joint ventures involving cooperatives. Levi is an active member of the Legal, Tax and Accounting Committee (LTA) of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, currently serving as its Vice President, as well as chairing the LTA Subcommittee on Disputes Involving Cooperatives and Their Members.

Finance Experience

• Represented leading sponsor finance lenders in over 100 loan origination transactions.
• Represented lender in multiple subscription line credit facilities.
• Represented national lender in large working capital, real estate and construction loan facility.
• Represented regional lender in connection with $19 million construction loan.
• Represented administrative agent in large syndicated revolving credit facility.
• Represented national bank in significant operating and real estate credit facilities, including the structuring and negotiation of intercreditor issues relating to subordinated debt facility.
• Represents local and national banks and other lending institutions in a variety of loan transactions.
• Represents private equity sponsors and corporate borrowers in loans ranging in size from several million dollars to over $500 million.
• Represented large agribusiness in connection with over $800 million of financing.
• Represented multiple issues in capital markets transactions.

Cooperative and Agribusiness Experience

• Serve as outside general counsel to multiple regional and national cooperatives.
• Advise national cooperative on governance matters.
• Represented cooperative members in dispute with cooperative board that ultimately led to the complete replacement of the cooperative board with members representative.
• Represented a joint venture in the agriculture sector through a complex restructuring transaction involving governance, financing and operational issues.
• Represented a joint venture in the agriculture sector in all aspects of the buyout of one joint venture partner.
• Representing cooperatives in multiple agricultural sectors on formation, governance, and operational matters.
• Represented two cooperatives during and after a dispute with minority members of a jointly owned entity.
• Represent cooperatives and agribusinesses in government financing programs offered by the USDA.

Education

• University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 2014, magna cum laude
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, B.S., 2011, with distinction

Admissions

• Minnesota, 2014
• Wisconsin, 2026

• Best Lawyers in America, Banking and Finance Law, 2026
• Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Banking and Finance Law, 2021-2025
• North Star Lawyer, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2015
• Certificates of Merit in Land Use Planning and Control and Environmental Law and Policy, University of Michigan Law School

Professional Activities

• Michigan Journal of Law Reform, Contributing Editor, 2013-2014; Associate Editor 2012-2013