Rebecca Hurst

Rebecca Hurst - Proven Leader in Business Law

Rebecca Hurst

Rebecca is the managing partner and a founder of Smith Hurst, PLC and has been recognized by Mid-South Super Lawyers as one of the top fifty lawyers in Arkansas. Originally focusing her legal practice on estate planning and philanthropic endeavors of high net worth individuals and families who have amassed their wealth from family business activities over the past decade, her practice has naturally evolved to not only represent her clients in their estate planning and philanthropic endeavors but also in their business, investing and real estate activities. She frequently serves as general legal counsel in a family office role for many of her clients.

In addition to an extensive family office practice, Rebecca routinely advises businesses and corporations with respect to mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and private placement of securities and general business matters. Rebecca’s experience in client representation includes acting as general “outside” counsel to companies, advising on daily business matters, including employment contracting and trade secret issues, corporate structure and governance, financing, contract drafting and negotiation and transactions. She also routinely advises tax exempt organizations ranging from public charities, agricultural organizations and political action committees.

Since 2007, she has been an adjunct professor at the University of Arkansas School of Law where she teaches advanced classes in Federal Estate and Gift Tax, Nonprofit Organizations and Estate Planning. Prior to attending law school, Rebecca worked as an accountant for Beverly Enterprises (now Golden Living) in Fort Smith, Arkansas, serving seventeen skilled nursing facilities with Medicare, Medicaid and financial audit and reporting matters.

Education

New York University School of Law

Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation (2006)

University of Arkansas School of Law

Juris Doctor, magna cum laude (2005)

  • Arkansas Law Review, Executive Editor
  • Charles Thomas Pearson Fellow and scholarship recipient
  • Phi Alpha Delta, Justice
  • Arkansas State University

    Bachelor of Science, Accounting, magna cum laude and first in degree (2001)

  • Recipient of Outstanding Accounting Student Award
  • Recipient of Distinguished Business Transfer Student Award
  • Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society
  • Community Involvement

    UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS SCHOOL OF LAW

    • Teaches advanced classes in Federal Estate and Gift Tax, Nonprofit Organizations and Estate Planning
    • Member of Dean’s Law School Advisory Board

    UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FORT SMITH FOUNDATION

    Board of Directors

    ADVISORY COUNCIL TO THE ARKANSAS ARTS COUNCIL

    Council Member

    WALTON ARTS CENTER

    Corporate Leadership Council

    MORGAN NICK FOUNDATION

    Board of Directors

    ARKANSAS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

    Gift Planning Advisory Council

    AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION

    Member of Business, Taxation and Trusts and Estates Sections

    Honors and Recognitions

    Top 50 Lawyers in Arkansas, Mid-South Super Lawyers

    Named one of the top 50 lawyers in Arkansas.

    Chambers & Partners USA (since 2019)

    Ranked as a leading lawyer in Corporate and Commercial Law.

    Best Lawyers in America

    Chosen as Lawyer of the year in 2023.
    Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers for:

    • Tax Law
    • Corporate Law
    • Trusts and Estates Law
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
    • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law

    Martindale-Hubbell, AV Rating

    Received the highest peer rating for legal ethics and ability.

    C-SUITE HONORS

    Recognized by the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal as part of its C-Suite Honors, an award given to the top business executives in the region.

    Northwest Arkansas Business Journal top Women in Business Honoree

    Recognized as one of the region's top businesswomen for professional accomplishments and community leadership.

    Forty Under 40 Honoree, Northwest Arkansas Business Journal

    Recognized as an accomplished young leader in business and the community.

    OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD HONOREE, UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FORT SMITH ALUMNI COUNCIL

    Publications

    Arkansas Law Notes

    SEC Lifts Ban on General Solicitation, Adopts “Bad Actor” Rules and Proposes Changes to Regulation D and Form D
    2013

    Legal Aid of Arkansas

    Estate Planning for Hospice Patients: A Manual and Guide for Legal Aid Attorneys.
    2008

    Arkansas Law Review

    A Change in Planning: Estate of Strangi v. Commissioner’s Effect on the Use of Family Limited Partnerships in Estate Planning
    2004

    Representative Transactions

    Represented Lifewater International in its merger with Water for Good of Indianapolis MORE

    Representation of physician owners in sale of ambulatory surgery center to Washington Regional Medical.

    Legal counsel to privately-held group in sale of its cold storage facilities and related logistics businesses.

    Represented private investor group its acquisition of a medical marijuana dispensary.

    Counsel to Prime NWA Investments, LLC in connection with eight figure securities offering and development of $46 million medical facility and campus.

    Representation of Watercolors of Centerton, LLC in its sale of a 232 unit multifamily apartment complex for $45.16 million.

    Representation of Brookhaven Commercial Properties, LLC, the owners of a 472 unit multi-family apartment living community, in a $21.6 million HUD sponsored credit facility transaction.

    Rebecca Hurst

    Rebecca Hurst