Sheldon H. Smith, attorney at law, retired from the law firm of Bryan Cave LLP where he practiced in the firm’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation client servicesgroup and its Fiduciary Litigation client services group, advising clients on ERISA, qualified retirement plans, welfare benefit plans, executive compensation, and fiduciary duties. Mr. Smith practiced law in private law firms for more than 43 years.
During his career, Mr. Smith designed and assisted clients with the implementation and operation of qualified and non-qualified pension benefit plans, welfare benefit plans and equity-based compensation plans. He advised benefits committees and plan sponsor clients regarding their fiduciary duties, performed fiduciary duty compliance audits on employee benefit plans, and conducted fiduciary training. Mr. Smith represented clients before the IRS, Department of Labor, and the PBGC, and, with over 40 years of litigation experience, defended clients in ERISA and benefits, tax and probate litigation. Mr. Smith has also served as a mediator and as an arbitrator in benefits and probate disputes.
Mr. Smith’s clients were both public and private companies,tax-exempt enterprises, and governmental organizations.
From 1980 to 1986, Mr. Smith was a member of either the adjunct or visiting faculties of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law where he has taught in both its Graduate TaxProgram and the law school. He received his undergraduate degree (B.A.) from Washington University in St. Louis and both of his law degrees (J.D. and LL.M. (taxation)) from the University of Denver.
Mr. Smith was one of the country’s foremost continuingprofessional education instructors in his areas of expertise for over 35 years. He presented seminars and gave speeches in most of the states to many diverse types of professional groups, including the American Institute of CertifiedPublic Accountants, more than 30 different state societies of CPAs, Tax Section of the American Bar Association, Western Pension & Benefits Conference, American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA), the College for Financial Planning, Financial Planners Association, IACEBS, Thomas Reuters, FTWilliams, banking and insurance organizations, and others. Mr. Smith has authored numerous articles, blogs, and course materials in his areas of expertise.
Mr. Smith served as president of the Denver Tax Group (1983). He was a member of the Western Pension and Benefits Council since 1986 and served as its President (2000) and as President of the Denver Chapter (1999). Mr. Smith is a Past President of ASPPA (2010), sat on the Board of Directors of the American Retirement Association and was a senioradvisor to its Government Affairs Committee. Mr. Smith is a Fellow of The American College of Employee Benefits Counsel and has been selected to "Chambers USA - America's Leading Lawyers," "The Best Lawyers in America," "Who’s Who in American Law," "Who’s Who in American Education," and as a Colorado Super Lawyer.
In 2009, Mr. Smith was honored to be named the Outstanding Alumni Law Star by the University of DenverSturm College of Law. In 2015, Mr. Smith received the prestigious Eidsen Award from the American Society of Pension Plan Professionals and Actuaries.
