Clayton J. Smith

Clayton is an attorney in Taft’s Environmental practice group. He counsels a diverse range of clients on environmental compliance, permitting, and litigation matters. 

Prior to joining Taft, Clayton was an associate with a well-known national law firm where he focused his practice on commercial litigation, including real estate, fraud, and breach of contract matters. During law school, Clayton was selected to participate in the Milton Stewart Fellows Overseas Externship Program in Tokyo, Japan, assisting attorneys on international maritime and financial matters.

Clayton earned his J.D. from Indiana University Maurer School of Law and his B.A. in political science from the University of Minnesota. At Minnesota, he competed in NCAA Division One swimming for the Men’s Swimming and Diving Team, serving as team captain and becoming an academic and athletic All-American.