Stiles, Taylor & Grace, P.A.

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After graduation from High Point College in North Carolina in 1970 with his bachelor's, John S. Smith received his law degree from Stetson University College of Law in 1974.

Prior to joining the law firm of Stiles, Taylor & Grace, P.A. in 1999, he served as house counsel for Traveler's Insurance Company. In 1976, he joined Marlow, Mitzel, Ortmayer and Shofi and later became a shareholder in Shofi, Smith, Hennen, Smith and Slother. His practice is devoted to workers' compensation defense and in claims arising under the Federal Longshore and Harborworkers' Compensation Act.

Smith has also lectured extensively on workers' compensation issues and procedures to numerous employers and insurors. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Florida Bar, the Workers' Compensation Section of The Florida Bar, the Hillsborough County Bar Association, and the St. Petersburg Bar Association.

Smith is admitted to practice in The United States Supreme Court, the United States Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the United States Department of Labor and the Benefits Review Board.

Mr. Smith is "AV" Rated by Martindale-Hubble. He has been selected by his peers as a Leading Florida Attorney in the area of workers' compensation Defense Law (less then 6% of the attorneys licensed to practice in Florida have been so selected by their peers). Most recently, Mr. Smith was recognized as one of "Tampa Bay's Top Lawyers" in the July/August 2010 issue of Tampa Bay Magazine.