2025 In-House Counsel Awards: William S. Smith

Number of years with firm: 27

Legal leadership: As general counsel for Software AG’s Americas operations, I led a team of 10 lawyers and 5 contract professionals covering North and Latin America. Noteworthy achievements included the acquisition of a publicly traded middleware company to double the size of the company in 2007; the acquisition in 2011 of a big data and memory company; the acquisition in 2018 of an IoT entity; and in July 2024 closing a $2 billion sale of integration business units to a major international software company. Other successes included deals to acquire an AI company, a process management company, and a mainframe software developer.

Pro bono work/community or civic involvement: I advise a nonprofit sports ministry organization in connection with various corporate, operational and donor-related matters. Other examples include: Volunteer, Fairfax Bar Association Community Outreach program; board member, Northern Virginia Fellowship of Christian Athletes; co-founder and board member, FCA Endurance.

On my identity/background: I grew up swimming and gravitated towards coaching. I always loved coaching and mentoring. We wanted our Software AG legal team to emphasize a “two-way” street approach where our lawyers could get opportunities to do work they found interesting while we got their best work in return. We needed mutual trust that allowed us to know our team would do their best because they knew they could trust us to help in the proper development of their careers.

Most pressing issue that IHCs face: I think it is important for lawyers to see that marketplace factors like VC activity or AI development have the potential to deeply change the way law is practiced.