Attorneys

Daniel D. Smith, Esq.

Partner

Not accepting new cases

An expert in the fields of tax, trust and estate planning, probate, trust and estate litigation, and general business and corporate law,  Dan Smith received his law degree from the University of Virginia Law School and his undergraduate degree from Indiana University at Bloomington.

He has published extensively in legal journals in his areas of specialization. For several years, Dan and his wife Amy Smith, a financial advisor, undertook a local newspaper column dedicated to "Planning for Life."

Commitment to community, local and global, informs every area of Dan Smith's personal and professional life. From his service as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps to his co-founding of Prison Fellowship, from a pivotal role in the establishment of the George Mason University School of Law to his service as founding trustee and chairman of Loudoun Healthcare Foundation, Dan Smith has made others' well being his mission.

He is a member of the bars of Virginia and the District of Columbia, and from 1996 to 2022 held membership in the Maryland Bar. Additional bar admissions include the U.S. Supreme Court, the Virginia Supreme Court, and U.S. Tax Court.

Mr. Smith lives in Loudoun County, Virginia, with his wife, Amy. He has five children and 13 grandchildren. His recreational interests include running, golf, and bird hunting.

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W. Franklin Pugh, Esq.

Partner

Frank Pugh has practiced law in Northern Virginia since 1985. He earned his law degree from the George Mason University School of Law that year; he was awarded his undergraduate degree from Oral Roberts University in 1982. Frank Pugh has dedicated his professional career to areas of practice involving estate planning (wills, revocable living trusts, amendments, powers of attorney, advance medical directives, and deeds), estate and trust administration, probate, and beneficiary representation. A member of the Virginia State Bar and the Loudoun County Bar Association, Frank serves as Commissioner in Chancery for the Circuit Court of Loudoun County.

Mr. Pugh is a native of Smyth County, Virginia; today he lives in Leesburg with his wife, Kathryn, and they have four children. Active in the community, he is an elder at Potomac Hills Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Leesburg and has coached youth baseball and been involved with youth speech and debate programs.

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Jonathan A. Nelson, Esq.

PARTNER

Jonathan A. Nelson has practiced law in Northern Virginia since 2007. His practice includes estate planning (wills, revocable living trusts, special needs trusts, amendments, powers of attorney, advance medical directives, and deeds), probate, estate and trust administration, and guardianships for incapacitated adults. He also works with general business, contract, and property matters. A skilled litigator, Mr. Nelson specializes in litigation and dispute resolution. From drafting, negotiation, and informal conflict resolution to administrative proceedings, trial, and appeals, Mr. Nelson utilizes his courtroom experience and legal expertise to anticipate future advantages and avoid costly missteps for our clients.

Mr. Nelson received his B.A. in Government and Public Policy from Patrick Henry College in 2004 and his law degree from The George Washington University School of Law in 2007. While in law school, Mr. Nelson competed in moot court and alternative dispute resolution and participated in mock trial and negotiations.  

Mr. Nelson joined Smith Pugh & Nelson in 2019 and was named a partner in 2021. Before joining the firm, Mr. Nelson was an associate at Cuccinelli & Day (now Juris Day) for 11 years. He is a member of the Virginia State Bar and the bars of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mr. Nelson is a Deacon at Potomac Hills Presbyterian Church, and involved in youth sports and his local bar association. He lives in Leesburg with his wife, Jenny, and four children.

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Christopher S. Woodruff, Esq.

Associate

Christopher S. Woodruff is a member of the Virginia State Bar and has been a licensed Minnesota attorney since 2016. He graduated from Georgetown University Law Center and received his undergraduate degree from Baylor University.

Mr. Woodruff’s practice focuses on estate planning (wills, revocable living trusts, amendments, powers of attorney, advance medical directives, and deeds), probate, and estate and trust administration. He provides attentive, caring, and insightful service to his clients.

Through his work with refugees, Mr. Woodruff brings extensive experience walking with people who are experiencing grief, trauma, and complex family situations. He thrives in cross-cultural contexts, and enjoys working with clients to develop practical solutions to legal challenges.

While enrolled at Georgetown, Mr. Woodruff founded Life Raft International, Inc., a 501(c)(3) which enables churches to help refugees in Bangkok, Thailand. He also spent significant time while in law school working on immigration cases, continues to work on asylum cases on a pro bono basis, and speaks conversational Spanish.

In 2014, Life Raft’s board invited Mr. Woodruff to lead them full-time, and he and his family moved to Thailand after he graduated from law school in 2015. During his time in Bangkok, Mr. Woodruff helped Life Raft become the focal point for churches and individuals around the world who want to care for refugees, and was a key leader of an advocacy effort to end child detention in Thailand.  He built up a team that today thrives independently, and in 2020, his family returned to the U.S. and settled in Loudoun County, Virginia.

Originally from Missouri, Mr. Woodruff was raised in Loudoun County. He enjoys working in his yard, playing with his daughters, and following just about every sport. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Life Raft International, is active in Leesburg Community Church, and is a member of the Catoctin Elementary PTA.

Click here for Chris Woodruff’s CV.