Smith Strong, PLC

H. Van Smith

H. Van Smith practices family law across central Virginia, including from his offices in both the Richmond metropolitan area and Williamsburg. Van also routinely provides strategic legal counsel to business owners, elected officials, professional athletes, and political consulting firms in long-term, retained attorney-client relationships. He is the sole owner of SMITH STRONG, PLC and a member of the family law sections of the Virginia State Bar, the American Bar Association, and the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. Van has been featured several times in the Richmond Times Dispatch, Virginia Gazette, Daily Press, WRVA 1140AM, William & Mary News and UVA Today; he welcomes the opportunity to educate his community on divorce, custody, and family law issues in Virginia. In 2013, the Virginia legal community welcomed Van Smith’s first book in the Legal Strength Series: The Ultimate Guide to Divorce and Custody in Virginia: Quickly Get Back to Fully Living Your Life. And Van was honored in 2013 with Avvo's Client Satisfaction Award for Family Law. Van’s practice focuses on family law matters, including divorce, related tax and business issues, custody and support plans, property distribution, integrated solutions for wealth preservation and management post-separation, collaborative law, and civil litigation. Smith Strong, PLC offers a comprehensive range of family law services from advice and counseling on the most sophisticated and complex business and legal issues to negotiating agreements, mediating disputes, and litigation involving:

Education: B.A. Government, The College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, 2003. , J.D., William & Mary School of Law, Williamsburg, Virginia, 2007.

Heidi Lewis

Heidi Lewis serves as an Attorney & Counselor at Law with Smith Strong, PLC in Williamsburg, Virginia and limits her practice to family law matters. Heidi graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law and earned her undergraduate degree in American Political History from Davidson College in North Carolina. Heidi was born and raised in Essex, Vermont but now resides in Williamsburg with her husband. Heidi has experience in client communication and advocacy. During the summer following her first year of law school, she interned at a firm that represents indigent clients accused of federal drug crimes. She also worked with the firm to defend the constitutional rights of convicted felons detained beyond their prison sentences under the Adam Walsh Act. During the summer after her second year of law school, Heidi worked with a firm that specialized in bankruptcy proceedings and estate planning. She collaborated with clients to determine the best legal course of action to address the clients’ needs. Heidi has a passion for working with clients to meet their individual goals in order to achieve the best outcome possible in every situation. In her free time, Heidi enjoys reading, watercolor and acrylic painting, running, watching Clemson football, and spending time with her husband.

Certifications: Member, Virginia State Bar

Sheri Perkinson

Sheri has over 20 years of family law experience, with some of Richmond's finest family law firms. She meets with attorney Van Smith weekly, ensuring each legal matter with the firm is fully prepared and maintains its momentum. Sheri is also C.E.O of Servor, Inc., a legal process service company based in Richmond, Virginia. Sheri lives in Henrico County, Virginia with her two children.

Brittany DeVries

Brittany DeVries serves as a Client Services Specialist and Marketing Coordinator with Smith Strong, PLC. Brittany is a 2012 graduate of the University of Mary Washington. Prior to joining Smith Strong, Brittany DeVries served as Editor of The National Horsemen and as an assistant in law firms in Virginia and Vermont. She also served as a Feature Writer for The Front Porch Newspaper and Free Lance Star. Britanny grew up in Vermont, but enjoys the warmer climate of Virginia, particularly when riding horses. She enjoys assisting our clients through difficult moments in their family law case and keeping them informed of their case's progress, each week. Brittany also assists our firm with posting great content on this website and in our client newsletter to empower our clients as they move through the transition of their family law matter.

Education: University of Mary Washington

Deborah L. Baugher

Deborah Lee Baugher is an independent paralegal contractor whom Smith Strong relies upon with our complex family law cases. Mrs. Baugher has worked in the legal profession since 1994, first as a legal secretary and then paralegal to a well known Culpeper family law attorney. From July 2001 through January 2003 she served as paralegal to a Charlottesville firm having a more general practice, gaining experience in immigration, bankruptcy and civil litigation. Thereafter, she returned to her former Culpeper firm from February 2003 until December 2006. Mrs. Baugher has served as a faculty member/presenter and review board member for the Institute for Paralegal Education, and has been a speaker at the Virginia Alliance of Paralegal Associations’ October 2008 conference as a panel member discussing career opportunities for independent paralegals. Mrs. Baugher is a member of N.A.L.A.: the National Association of Legal Assistants. She is a Board member and secretary with the Piedmont Model Railroaders, has been a certified brakeman on the Walkersville-Southern excursion railroad, and enjoys playing Minecraft with her husband of 25 years. Smith Strong’s Founder, Van Smith, in introducing Deborah to the firm’s staff, said, “You’re going to love Deborah because she knows all of the ins and outs of family law in Virginia. Crazy enough, she really enjoys family law, too! You’ll really enjoy working with Deborah.” And so do our client-members.

Certifications: Institute for Paralegal Education , N.A.L.A.: the National Association of Legal Assistants , Piedmont Model Railroaders

Kaitlin Mayhew

Kaitlin Mayhew communicates with our new and current clients, each week, answering questions, providing important updates, and "getting past roadblocks." Kaitlin graduated from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia with a B.A. in Spanish Literature--which comes in handy with our native Spanish-speaking clients. Kaitlin grew up in the West End of Richmond, Virginia attending Deep Run High School. Prior to joining Smith Strong, PLC, Kaitlin was a Reporter for The Daily New-Record in Harrisonburg, Virginia, receiving an investigative reporting award from the Virginia Press Association. Kaitlin also interned for Richmond Bizsense writing multiple stories each week. What sets Kaitlin apart is her calm spirit with our clients--even when the caller is deeply emotional about the divorce or custody matter they face.

Education: University of Mary Washington

Katie Smith

Katie Smith serves the firm's Accounting and Marketing divisions. Katie graduated from William & Mary with both a Bachelors degree in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Higher Education Administration (Van notes: her transcript shows she graduated with a 4.0 GPA from her Masters Program--not too shabby!) Katie served in the Virginia Community College System for five years as an academic advisor and faculty member, at the PVCC, NVCC ELI, and JTCC campuses. Katie is a member of the Junior League of Richmond and attends First Baptist Church in Richmond. Katie is married to founding attorney Van Smith of Smith Strong; and they welcomed the birth of their first daughter, Farah Lee Smith, in September 2012. Katie was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, and grew up in Winston-Salem, attending Salem Academy. Katie hails from a distinguished line of lawyers. Her grandfather, William Poe, attended Harvard Law School after World War II and was a founding partner of Parker Poe in Charlotte; and her father, Stephen Poe, now serves as Managing Partner of Bell, Davis & Pitt in Winston-Salem, where he specializes in banking law. What we appreciate about Katie is a cheerful, calm demeanor that is laser focused on results-oriented solutions.

Education: William & Mary

Certifications: Junior League of Richmond