Thomas B. Smith

Thomas B. Smith is a veteran health care attorney with over 35 years of experience in the health care industry, beginning his career in hospital administration before transitioning to private practice. Prior to becoming an attorney, Tom served in senior leadership roles at several hospitals in Florida, including as Assistant Director of a 600-bed teaching hospital. His early exposure to the challenges faced by hospitals—especially around governance, reimbursement, and regulatory compliance—motivated him to pursue a law degree so he could help providers navigate the legal system with confidence and clarity.

Tom’s practice is focused exclusively on health care. He advises physicians, ambulatory surgical centers, veterinary providers, and other health care businesses on a broad range of issues, including licensure board investigations, reimbursement disputes, joint ventures, Medicare and Medicaid compliance, medical staff governance, and practice formation. He is known for his ability to simplify extraordinarily complex regulatory frameworks and for helping clients resolve issues early—before they escalate into litigation or enforcement action. A pivotal influence on Tom’s approach came early in his career, when a federal judge famously observed that Medicare regulations were “incomprehensible,” reinforcing Tom’s belief that honest providers deserve strong advocacy when dealing with opaque rules and aggressive oversight.

Recognized by Best Lawyers in America as Tampa Bay’s Health Care Lawyer of the Year in 2015 and AV® Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, Tom is valued not just for his legal knowledge, but for the long-standing relationships he builds with providers who trust him to help them solve high-stakes problems with perspective and precision.

Representative Matters

• Health Care Practice Development. Founded and built the health law practice at three different law firms, including launching Johnson Pope’s Health Care Practice Group.
• Regulatory Compliance Counseling. Advised physicians and ambulatory surgery centers on Medicare reimbursement compliance and defense strategies in audits and investigations, helping clients avoid liability under complex federal regulations.
• Physician Group Formation and Transactions. Structured joint ventures, professional contracts, and provider networks for multi-specialty physician groups, assisting with formation, governance, and negotiation of strategic alliances.
• Licensure and Enforcement Matters. Represented individual health care providers before licensure boards in Florida and Tennessee, guiding clients through investigations and disciplinary proceedings.

Bar Admissions

• Florida, 1989

Education

• University of South Carolina College of Law, J.D., 1984
• University of Florida, M.B.A., Hospital Administration, 1976
• Florida State University, B.A., 1973

Awards & Recognition

• AV® Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• The Best Lawyers in America®, Health Care Law, 2006 – Present
• The Best Lawyers in America®, Tampa Bay Health Care Lawyer of the Year, 2015

Community & Professional Organizations

• The Florida Bar, 1989 – Present
  • Member
• The Florida Bar, Health Law Section
  • Member
• ABA Forum on Health Law
  • Member
• Canterbury School of Florida
  • Pro Bono Volunteer
• Doctor’s Without Borders
  • Active Donor

Outside the Office

Tom lives in St. Petersburg with his wife. A lifelong reader, he has a particular passion for military and English history. He and his wife enjoy traveling the world—especially to the United Kingdom—and he supports global medical causes through Doctors Without Borders.