R. Pete Smith

R. Pete Smith is a highly respected attorney whose career spans complex areas such as business litigation, commercial transactions, bankruptcy, employment disputes, and financial restructuring. Over the years, he has earned a reputation as both a skilled litigator and a strategic advisor who helps clients navigate challenging legal and financial issues with precision.

Pete began his academic journey at the University of Kansas, where he earned a B.S. in Accounting in 1967, graduating magna cum laude and becoming a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the Business School International Honor Society. He later received his J.D. from the University of Missouri at Kansas City in 1970, also magna cum laude, and was honored as Editor-in-Chief of the UMKC Law Review.

Pete’s professional excellence has been recognized through numerous honors, including his long-standing listing in Best Lawyers in America since 1987 and his AV® Preeminent™ rating by Martindale Hubbell. He has also been consistently recognized by Super Lawyers for business litigation since 2005, named to Ingram’s 250 Most Powerful and Influential Business Leaders across multiple years, and honored as one of the Best Divorce Lawyers in Kansas City in 2020. His distinctions also include being named Dean of The Trial Bar, Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy, and Senior Fellow with the Litigation Counsel of America.

R. Pete Smith is a respected leader in today’s legal landscape, known for delivering strategic advocacy, navigating clients through complex disputes and restructuring matters, and actively serving the legal and civic communities. By combining deep legal experience with practical, results-driven solutions, he has become a go-to advisor for clients facing high-stakes, sophisticated challenges.

Law Office Affiliations

• CEO and Executive Board Member, McDowell Rice Smith & Buchanan, P.C.
• Member, American Association for Justice
• Member, The Missouri Bar
• Member, Kansas Bar Association
• Member, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association

Licensed State

• Missouri
• Kansas

Education

• University of Missouri-Kansas City
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Kansas
  BS in Accounting

Awards & Badges