Law Office of Douglas H. Smith

Law Office of Douglas H. Smith | Over 25 Years Of Experience

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Meeting the Diverse Legal Needs of Businesses in Rhode Island

Business Law • Employment Law • Real Estate Law • Construction Law

The Law Office of Douglas H. Smith is a general practice law firm serving small and medium-sized businesses throughout Rhode Island. With more than 25 years of legal experience, attorney Douglas Smith understands the business community and the real estate industry in Rhode Island to an extent that few lawyers can match.

The experience of Attorney Smith, the efficiency of its staff, and a modest overhead allow the Law Office of Douglas H. Smith to provide cost-effective legal representation without sacrificing quality. Contact the firm to speak with a business attorney about any of the following legal matters:

Business Law: Small business law is an area of concentration for the firm. From small business start-up and corporate formation to drafting and review of business contracts, employment contracts, and franchise agreements to sale of a business, Rhode Island business lawyer Douglas H. Smith can handle it all.

Business clients are the firm’s primary clientele, and Attorney Smith is pleased to provide a comprehensive array of services for individuals the business community.

  • Partnership, joint venture, and LLC documents
  • Business acquisition agreements
  • Commercial loan agreements

Employment Law: The Law Office of Douglas H. Smith works with employers in the preparation of employment contracts and non-compete agreements, as well as representing employers in business litigation of employment contract disputes, severance packages, non-compete agreements, and employee violations of privacy or trade secrets.

  • Non-compete clauses
  • Termination agreements

Attorney Smith represented a real estate seller who was sued by the buyer and former tenant for fraud and alleged non-disclosure of a sublease.

After a two-week trial, Smith proved that the buyer was aware of the sublease, contrary to his testimony at trial. Smith also established both the existence and the enforceability of a 99-year oral sublease.

Real Estate Law: Another strong suit for the firm is its real estate law practice. From leasing, purchase, and sale of commercial real estate to complex real estate litigation, attorney Douglas Smith’s decades of experience in Rhode Island real estate law is demonstrated in the breadth of cases he handles, including:

  • Mechanic’s liens
  • Lease disputes
  • Partition suits
  • Adverse possession (when a neighbor has encroached upon your property for 10 years, adverse possession law may give that neighbor property rights over that portion of your property)
  • Quiet title actions
  • Equitable causes of action
  • Breach of purchase and sale agreements


In one construction law case, Attorney Smith’s homeowner client was accused by a contractor of non-payment for materials and labor performed at his property.

At a trial, the contractor’s claim was denied and the mechanic’s lien on the client’s property was dismissed.

Nursing Home Representation: The firm represents assisted living facilities and personal care providers in contract disputes with vendors.

Construction Law: The firm represents builders, contractors, and subcontractors in construction contract disputes and contractor-homeowner disputes, including securing mechanic’s liens. In addition to courtroom representation, attorney Douglas H. Smith represents contractors before the Contractor’s Registration Board, an administrative agency with jurisdiction over subcontractor disputes.

The Law Office of Douglas H. Smith: Providing quality legal service at an economical price. Contact the firm’s Providence law office to schedule an appointment.