Partner Kerri Smith is a member of Silverman Thompson’s real estate group, specializing in commercial and residential real estate for landlords, tenants, business owners, property management companies, and real property owners. Her practice spans development, construction, leasing, and management across various property types. She is a skilled litigator with extensive experience in federal and state courts.
Ms. Smith has significant experience in landlord-tenant law, including issues associated with federal and state subsidies (Section 8, project-based, LIHTC, HOME Program, RAD properties, Supportive Housing for the Elderly, and public housing conversions). She is an expert in this niche area of real estate law and is constantly informed of and deeply proficient in landlord-tenant law’s constant local, state, and federal changes to best serve her clients.
Ms. Smith is known by her clients and throughout the legal community as organized, prepared, and reliable. Over her tenure as a Maryland real estate attorney, she has developed excellent rapport with many judges, courthouse staff, and other attorneys, and she is frequently called upon to provide advice and guidance on questions involving landlord tenant law.
Ms. Smith is very active in the local and legal community and has been involved with local, state, and national bar associations for over 10 years, developing strong relationships with the Maryland legal community. She serves in numerous leadership roles for the Bar Association of Baltimore City, Maryland State Bar Association, and American Bar Association.
A consistent recipient of legal and community-based awards and recognition, Ms. Smith was notably named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women by the Daily Record in 2021 which recognizes high-achieving Maryland women who are making an impact through their leadership, community service, and mentoring. In 2023, she was named one of the Top 40 Young Lawyers in the nation by the American Bar Association, recognizing young lawyers who exemplify a broad range of high achievement, innovation, vision, leadership, and legal and community service.
Ms. Smith graduated magna cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 2012 where she was Senior Staff on the University of Baltimore Law Review and served as a Research Assistant preparing an administrative law textbook for publication. Ms. Smith was also a Judicial Intern for the Honorable Joseph F. Murphy Jr. in 2010 while Judge Murphy sat on the Court of Appeals of Maryland.
Ms. Smith has been with Silverman Thompson for her legal career, rising from a law clerk to an associate, to a partner in 2025, where she leads the Firm’s community service initiatives alongside her robust real estate practice.
“Kerri has been with the firm her entire legal career. She is conscientious and dependable both in her service to her clients and in public service. She is a master of her craft and uniquely dependable.” —Steven D. Silverman, Managing Partner
Assistant
Davonda Heyward
410.385.2225
dheyward@silvermanthompson.com
- University of Baltimore School of Law - J.D. - 2012
Magna Cum Laude
- St. Mary's College of Maryland - B.A. - 2009
Cum Laude
- Administrative Law
- Contract Litigation
- General Civil Litigation
- Real Estate
- Leasing - Commercial & Residential
- Landlord/Tenant
- Property Management
- Edward F. Shea, Jr. Professionalism Award, Maryland Bar Foundation, 2024
- On the Rise - Top 40 Young Lawyers, American Bar Association, 2023
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Litigation - Real Estate; Administrative/Regulatory Law, Real Estate, 2022-2025
- Maryland's Top 100 Women, The Daily Record, 2021
- Presidential Award, Bar Association of Baltimore City, 2019
- Sustained Leadership Award, Young Lawyers' Division of the Bar Association of Baltimore City, 2018
- Leadership in Law - Generation J.D. Award, The Daily Record, 2018
- Rising Star, Living Classrooms Foundation, 2013
Dean’s Committee, CollegeBound Foundation
“The ‘Keys’ to Repossession: Advocating for a Residential Landlord in Rent Court”, The Advocate, Maryland State Bar Association, Young Lawyer Section, Volume 27: Number 3 (Spring 2012).
- Bar Association of Baltimore City
Member Since: 2012
Co-Chair, National Adoption Day Committee, 2023-Present
Appointed Member, Judicial Selections Committee, 2020-Present
Chair, Events Committee, 2018-Present
Chair, Young Lawyer's Division, 2017-2018
Chair-Elect, Young Lawyers' Division, 2016-2017
Treasurer, Young Lawyers' Division, 2015-2016
Secretary, Young Lawyers' Division, 2014-2015
Member, Bench-Bar Committee, 2015-Present - Maryland State Bar Association
Member Since: 2012
Chair, Young Lawyers' Section, 2022-2023
Young Lawyers' Section Representative, Board of Governors, 2022-2023
Chair-Elect, Young Lawyers' Section, 2021-2022
Treasurer, Young Lawyers' Section, 2020-2021
District Representative to the Young Lawyers' Division of the American Bar Association, 2019-2021
Chair, Business Development Committee for Young Lawyers' Section, 2018-2019
First District (Baltimore City) Representative, Board of Governors, 2018-2020
Baltimore City Circuit Representative, Young Lawyers' Section, 2015-2018
Member, Special Committee on Recent Law School Graduates, 2013-2015 - Baltimore Bar Foundation
Chair-Elect, Board of Trustees, 2024-2025
Treasurer, Board of Trustees, 2023-2024
Chair, Investments Committee, Board of Trustees, 2023-Present
Secretary, Board of Trustees, 2022-2023
Board of Trustees, 2018-Present
Life Fellow, 2017-Present - American Bar Association
Member Since: 2017
Member Since: 2017
Delegate (State of Maryland), House of Delegates, 2023-2025
Eighth District (Maryland and Virginia) Representative, Young Lawyers' Division, 2019-2021
Young Lawyers' Division Liaison to the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Sections (TIPS) regarding Ethics and Professionalism, 2018-2019 - Maryland Access to Justice Commission
Commissioner, 2021-2022
- Urban Land Institute
- NAIOP, Commercial Real Estate Development Association, DC|MD Chapter