Keyla Smith is an Associate in the Miami office. She focuses her practice on commercial litigation matters, as well as defending significant personal injury, premises liability, and products liability lawsuits. Keyla represents a diverse client base, including major hotels and resort chains, retailers, and Fortune 500 companies in state and federal courts throughout Florida.

Keyla brings a wealth of trial experience, having launched her career as an Assistant Public Defender, where she honed critical litigation skills and was soon promoted to Training Attorney. In this role, she taught essential litigation topics to newly barred attorneys. Her zealous advocacy and professionalism have been widely recognized, earning her awards such as the Gideon’s Hope Award for her excellence in case preparation, litigation, client representation, and professionalism. Keyla later transitioned to a Senior Litigation Attorney role at a prominent personal injury firm, where she led complex, multi-jurisdictional civil cases. Her client-centered approach and innovative litigation strategies consistently led to favorable outcomes for her clients. Known for her strong collaborative abilities and unwavering commitment to ethical standards, Keyla has proven to be an invaluable asset in efficiently managing litigation.

Keyla earned her Juris Doctor from Florida International University College of Law, where she achieved top academic honors and served as a mentor to first-year students. She also holds a Master’s degree in Sport Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing from Florida State University. Beyond her professional responsibilities, Keyla is deeply engaged in her community, contributing to pro bono initiatives and serving on boards, including the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association and the South Dade Branch of the NAACP.