Levi J. Smith

Levi represents banks and other lenders in complex financing transactions. Levi also represents cooperatives and agribusinesses in organizational, governance, and other transactional matters.

Levi advises banks and other lending institutions on a variety of loan transactions and also represents private equity sponsors and corporate borrowers in commercial and real estate finance matters. He has significant experience leading all types of loan transactions, including acquisition financings, real estate loans, senior and mezzanine debt, and secured and unsecured loans. Levi is well versed in structuring, documenting, negotiating and closing complex financing transactions.

Levi also represents cooperatives and agribusinesses in a variety of legal matters, 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 of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. 

• 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.
• Represents private equity sponsors in corporate transactions and general corporate matters.
• Represented bank in connection with $19 million construction financing.
• 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.
• Represented large agribusiness in connection with over $800 million of financing transactions.
• Represented two cooperatives who owned a majority interest in a grain-marketing limited-liability company during and after a dispute with its minority members.
• Represented a joint venture through a complex restructuring transaction involving governance, financing, and operational issues.
• Represented multiple cooperatives on governance-related matters.

Education

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

Admissions

• Minnesota, 2014

• 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