Michael (Mike) Smith, Partner
Michael (Mike) Smith is a Partner who joined Cedar Law in 2021. He jumped at the chance to return to a practice dedicated to serving and supporting children, families and others in the education and school settings.
Prior to his most recent two year stint working as a Senior Deputy City Attorney with the City of Oakland, CA, Mike served as in-house counsel for the Oakland Unified School District (“OUSD”) for 14 years. He advised school district leadership and staff at all levels on contracting, open meetings law, claims, litigation, employment, public records requests, conflict of interest and other matters.
Prior to his time with OUSD, Mike was a Litigation Associate at the Stubbs & Leone law firm in Walnut Creek, CA from 2003 to 2005, and at the Los Angeles and Palo Alto offices of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips from 2001 to 2003. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Willamette University in Oregon, and graduated from UC Berkeley School of Law, where he was Co-Editor-in-Chief of La Raza Law Journal.
Before college, Mike served as a U.S. Army tank driver. He was stationed in Germany for the bulk of his military service and was deployed to the Middle East where he participated in Operation Desert Storm.