Jake loves people. As the rising tide lifts all boats in the harbor, Jake has always measured his success and satisfaction in terms of the success and satisfaction of others. And Jake has found that others succeed and reach satisfaction when those who understand their vision work with intention to ensure that vision comes to pass.
No stranger to adversity, Jake also prides himself on work ethic, resilience, and a relentless search for competitive advantage. These ideals carried Jake from humble beginnings in rural Calhoun County, Alabama into becoming an All-Conference football player at the University of Louisville who ultimately earned a shot in the National Football League (a shot to be a tackling dummy, really). Now, Jake applies these principles to invest his efforts into his clients’ businesses, which has led to him becoming a trusted deal lawyer handling complex transactions in jurisdictions across the country.
ABOUT JAKE
CO-FOUNDER
Prior to teaming up with Jordan White to launch White & Eldemire, Jake was the General Counsel for a large regional real estate development firm, where he served as the lead lawyer on over $400 million in closed corporate, real estate, and financing transactions, and he ran point on a development pipeline exceeding $1 billion. Before that, Jake represented entrepreneurs, closely held businesses, and large institutional clients in transactions of all stripes from his seat at a prominent Louisville law firm with a Southeastern and Midwestern footprint.
Jake partners with his clients to close deals timely, cost-effectively, and on terms that reflect the clients’ overall business objectives. Jake’s pledge is to understand every client’s vision, goals, and legal budget. This allows Jake to guide clients to a full understanding of deal structure and risk while never “over-lawyering.” Just like football spectators don’t buy tickets to games to watch referees throw penalty flags, businesspeople don’t put real money on the line in a transaction just to watch lawyers hold up deals – and run up a legal bill – in the name of maximal risk elimination.
Outside of work, Jake is usually teaming up with his wife, Molly, to tame their two young sons, Jack and Noah. In his free time, Jake enjoys sports, exercise, cooking, reading, and the great outdoors. Jake actively volunteers at his church, Sojourn Church Midtown, and serves as a director on several civic boards, including the University of Louisville Foundation and the Louisville Sports Commission.
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
- Representation of real estate developer on land acquisition, land use, development, joint venture structure with private equity investors (at times, international investors), construction, and construction financing of multiple Class A luxury multifamily apartment communities having a total project cost spanning from $50,000,000 to $80,000,000.
- Representation of industrial real estate developer in the creation of an industrial park having a projected value in excess of $125,000,000 and construction financing for industrial warehouse project having a total project cost in excess of $32,000,000.
- Representation of assisted living developer and operator in acquisition of existing facilities and ground-up construction of facilities ranging in value from $11,000,000 to $25,000,000.
- Representation of commercial landlords and tenants in drafting and negotiation of commercial leases, including build-to-suit leases, ground leases, healthcare leasing having Stark Law and anti-kickback considerations, triple net leases, and modified gross leases.
- Representation of issuer on multiple 506(b) private placements of securities in excess of $20,000,000.
- Representation of private equity operator in fund formation, structural advice, and broker-dealer considerations.
- Representation of group of investors in contentious restructure negotiations and ultimate sale of equity position in multi-state franchise.
- Representation of multiple name, image, and likeness collectives in corporate structuring, form contracts, and regulatory guidance.
- Regular representation of lenders and borrowers in secured and unsecured lending transactions.
EDUCATION
- J.D., magna cum laude, University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law
- Top 10 in class
- Member, National Moot Court Team
- Entrepreneurship Clinic
- Top Grade Award, Education Law
- B.S., Economics, University of Louisville
- Varsity Athlete (Football)
- Voted Team Captain by teammates
- 4-year starter
- School record for starts by a position player at 51 (tie)
- FWAA Freshman All-America
- Freshman All-BIG EAST
- 3x Academic All-BIG EAST
- Academic All-AAC
- Academic All-ACC
- 1st team All-AAC
- Honorable Mention All-ACC
- Team Offensive Grinder Award (work ethic)
- Sugar Bowl Champion
- 2x BIG EAST Champion
ADMISSIONS
- Kentucky
- Indiana
CIVIC INVOLVEMENT
- University of Louisville Foundation, Board of Directors
- University of Louisville Real Estate Foundation, Board of Directors
- Louisville Sports Commission, Board of Directors
- Member/Community Group Leader, Sojourn Church Midtown
FEATURED PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATION
- Real Estate Investment: Choice of Entity and Structure, Presenter for Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM), Kentucky Chapter’s Annual Kentucky Commercial Real Estate Conference, October 2022
- Real Estate Investment: Choice of Entity and Structure, Presenter for Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM), Kentucky Chapter’s Annual Kentucky Commercial Real Estate Conference, October 2023
- Level Playing Field: Attorneys, Like Former University of Louisville Football Player Jake Eldemire Smith, are Tackling Name, Image, and Likeness Rights in Search of a Fair Deal, Louisville Business First, March, 2022 Print Edition
