People
For over 25 years, Cal Smith has advised companies and their boards of directors on numerous high profile M&A and other complex corporate transactions for public companies, including spin-offs, buyouts and other special situations.
Cal also has extensive experience counseling boards of directors, CEOs and other C-Suite executives with respect to shareholder and stakeholder activism, proxy fights and preparedness, takeover defense and corporate governance as well as fiduciary duties and risk oversight, including as to ESG, cybersecurity and engaging with institutional investors and other key governance constituencies. Cal was Corporate Secretary of Georgia-Pacific Corporation when it was acquired by Koch Industries, Inc. in a deal valued at $21 billion. Cal’s practice also involves significant capital markets-related work and counseling regarding SEC reporting requirements.
Cal co-leads King & Spalding’s Public Companies Practice Group and is recognized by Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America and Legal 500 as a leading lawyer in the Corporate/M&A/Governance categories. He also has been twice named a BTI Client Service All-Star, as well as a winner of Lexology’s U.S. Client Choice Award for M&A and General Corporate.
Presentations and Speaking Engagements
J.D., Emory University
B.A., Wake Forest University
Georgia
Atlanta Bar Association
State Bar of Georgia
September 23, 2024
King & Spalding Earns Multiple Practice and Individual Rankings in 2024 IFLR1000 Guide
June 17, 2024
Cal Smith, Erik Belenky and John Anderson advise IQVentures on its $504M acquisition of The Aaron’s Company
June 17, 2024
IQVentures to Acquire Aaron's in Take Private Transaction
Representation of Genuine Parts Company in its $1.3 billion acquisition of Kaman Distribution Group.
Representation of CURO Group Holdings Corp. in its $360 million acquisition of Heights Finance.
Representation of American First Finance Inc. in its $1.47 billion sale to FirstCash Inc.
See more
April 24, 2017
Georgia House Bill 192 – Codifying and Clarifying the Business Judgment Rule in Georgia
November 22, 2016
Proxy Advisory Firms Issue 2017 Voting Guidelines
November 7, 2016
ISS Announces Rebranded Corporate Governance Rating System
September 23, 2024
King & Spalding Earns Multiple Practice and Individual Rankings in 2024 IFLR1000 Guide
June 17, 2024
Cal Smith, Erik Belenky and John Anderson advise IQVentures on its $504M acquisition of The Aaron’s Company
June 17, 2024
IQVentures to Acquire Aaron's in Take Private Transaction
Representation of Genuine Parts Company in its $1.3 billion acquisition of Kaman Distribution Group.
Representation of CURO Group Holdings Corp. in its $360 million acquisition of Heights Finance.
Representation of American First Finance Inc. in its $1.47 billion sale to FirstCash Inc.
See more
April 24, 2017
Georgia House Bill 192 – Codifying and Clarifying the Business Judgment Rule in Georgia
November 22, 2016
Proxy Advisory Firms Issue 2017 Voting Guidelines
November 7, 2016
ISS Announces Rebranded Corporate Governance Rating System
September 23, 2024
King & Spalding Earns Multiple Practice and Individual Rankings in 2024 IFLR1000 Guide
June 17, 2024
Cal Smith, Erik Belenky and John Anderson advise IQVentures on its $504M acquisition of The Aaron’s Company
June 17, 2024
IQVentures to Acquire Aaron's in Take Private Transaction
J.D., Emory University
B.A., Wake Forest University
Georgia
Atlanta Bar Association
State Bar of Georgia