Smith Hurst, PLC

Managing Partner and Founder

Rebecca is the managing partner and a founder of Smith Hurst, PLC and has been recognized by Mid-South Super Lawyers as one of the top fifty lawyers in Arkansas. Originally focusing her legal practice on estate planning and philanthropic endeavors of high net worth individuals and families who have amassed their wealth from family business activities over the past decade, her practice has naturally evolved to not only represent her clients in their estate planning and philanthropic endeavors but also in their business, investing and real estate activities. She frequently serves as general legal counsel in a family office role for many of her clients. Since 2007, she has been an adjunct professor at the University of Arkansas School of Law where she teaches advanced classes in Federal Estate and Gift Tax, Nonprofit Organizations and Estate Planning. Prior to attending law school, Rebecca worked as an accountant for Beverly Enterprises (now Golden Living) in Fort Smith, Arkansas, serving seventeen skilled nursing facilities with Medicare, Medicaid and financial audit and reporting matters.

Community Involvement

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS SCHOOL OF LAW

• Teaches advanced classes in Federal Estate and Gift Tax, Nonprofit Organizations and Estate Planning
• Member of Dean’s Law School Advisory Board

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FORT SMITH FOUNDATION

Board of Directors

ADVISORY COUNCIL TO THE ARKANSAS ARTS COUNCIL

Council Member

WALTON ARTS CENTER

Corporate Leadership Council

MORGAN NICK FOUNDATION

Board of Directors

ARKANSAS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

Gift Planning Advisory Council

AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION

Member of Business, Taxation and Trusts and Estates Sections

Education

New York University School of Law

Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation (2006)

University of Arkansas School of Law

Juris Doctor, magna cum laude (2005)

• Arkansas Law Review, Executive Editor
• Charles Thomas Pearson Fellow and scholarship recipient
• Phi Alpha Delta, Justice

Arkansas State University

Bachelor of Science, Accounting, magna cum laude and first in degree (2001)

• Recipient of Outstanding Accounting Student Award
• Recipient of Distinguished Business Transfer Student Award
• Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society

Honors and Recognitions

Top 50 Lawyers in Arkansas, Mid-South Super Lawyers

Named one of the top 50 lawyers in Arkansas.

Chambers & Partners USA (since 2019)

Ranked as a leading lawyer in Corporate and Commercial Law.

Best Lawyers in America

Chosen as Lawyer of the year in 2023.
Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers for:

• Tax Law
• Corporate Law
• Trusts and Estates Law
• Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law

Martindale-Hubbell, AV Rating

Received the highest peer rating for legal ethics and ability.

C-SUITE HONORS

Recognized by the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal as part of its C-Suite Honors, an award given to the top business executives in the region.

Northwest Arkansas Business Journal top Women in Business Honoree

Recognized as one of the region's top businesswomen for professional accomplishments and community leadership.

Forty Under 40 Honoree, Northwest Arkansas Business Journal

Recognized as an accomplished young leader in business and the community.

OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD HONOREE, UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FORT SMITH ALUMNI COUNCIL

Publications

Arkansas Law Notes

SEC Lifts Ban on General Solicitation, Adopts “Bad Actor” Rules and Proposes Changes to Regulation D and Form D
2013

Legal Aid of Arkansas

Estate Planning for Hospice Patients: A Manual and Guide for Legal Aid Attorneys.
2008

Arkansas Law Review

A Change in Planning: Estate of Strangi v. Commissioner’s Effect on the Use of Family Limited Partnerships in Estate Planning
2004