Attorneys
Daniel D. Smith, Esq.
Founding Partner
Not accepting new cases
Daniel D. Smith of Smith Pugh & Nelson, PLC
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.
Commitment to community, local and global, informs every area of Mr. 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, he has made others' well-being his mission. Since 2020, he has served on the board of Joni & Friends.
He has been published extensively in legal journals in his areas of specialization. For several years, Mr. Smith and his wife Amy Smith, a financial advisor, undertook a local newspaper column dedicated to "Planning for Life."
Mr. Smith has been a member of the bar of Virginia since 1969, and he held memberships in the District of Columbia bar (1973 to 2025) and the Maryland Bar (1996 to 2022) during his 50+ years of practicing law. Additional bar admissions included 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 travel, golf, and bird hunting.
W. Franklin Pugh, Esq.
Partner
W. Franklin Pugh of Smith Pugh & Nelson, PLC
Frank Pugh has practiced law in Northern Virginia since 1985, the year he earned his law degree from the George Mason University School of Law. He was awarded his undergraduate degree from Oral Roberts University in 1982.
Mr. 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, he served until October 2025 as a Commissioner in Chancery for the Circuit Court of Loudoun County.
Mr. Pugh is a native of Smyth County, Virginia. He and his wife Kathryn live in Leesburg, and they have four children. Active in the community, Mr. Pugh 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.
Jonathan A. Nelson, Esq.
PARTNER
Jonathan A. Nelson of Smith Pugh & Nelson, PLC
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 the firm’s 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 their four children.
Christopher S. Woodruff, Esq.
PARTNeR
habLO español, pero no fluidamente
Christopher S. Woodruff of Smith Pugh & Nelson, PLC
Christopher S. Woodruff is a member of the Virginia State Bar and has been licensed to practice law since 2016. He graduated from Georgetown University Law Center and received his undergraduate degree from Baylor University.
Mr. Woodruff joined Smith Pugh & Nelson in 2021, and was named a partner in 2026. His practice focuses on estate planning, corporate matters, and the administration of trusts and probate estates. He advises clients who are fiduciaries, and, on a case by case basis, serves as a fiduciary himself. He collaborates closely with clients to craft effective outcomes to complex legal issues.
Mr. Woodruff brings extensive experience walking with people who are experiencing grief, trauma, and intricate family dynamics. While enrolled at Georgetown, he founded Life Raft International, Inc., a 501(c)(3) which enables churches to help refugees, and spent significant time working on immigration cases. Mr. Woodruff speaks conversational Spanish, and excels in multicultural settings.
After law school, Mr. Woodruff lived in Bangkok, Thailand, and served as the director of Life Raft International. During his tenure, Life Raft became the focal point for churches and individuals around the world who want to care for refugees in Bangkok. He built up a team that today thrives independently, and in 2020, he and 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.
Maxwell J. S. Rubin, Esq.
Associate
Maxwell Rubin of Smith Pugh & Nelson, PLC
Maxwell J.S. Rubin is a member of the Virginia State Bar and has been licensed to practice since 2025. Mr. Rubin graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law and received his undergraduate degree from St. Olaf College.
Mr. Rubin joined Smith Pugh & Nelson in 2026. His practice focuses on estate planning, administration of wills, trusts, and probate estates, as well as fiduciary litigation.
During law school, Mr. Rubin worked as a research assistant to the law school’s preeminent property law professor, clerked for a municipal law firm, and was Associate Managing Editor of the Business, Entrepreneurship, Tax Law Review (BETR, 2022-2024). While earning a B.A. in Political Science and Mandarin Chinese at St. Olaf College, he interned for the Maine state senate and a U.S. congressman and held a variety of volunteer roles on political campaigns.
Mr. Rubin has knowledge and experience in zoning and entitlements and community associations law. In his current practice, he is committed to providing exceptional client service through meticulous attention to detail, attentive listening, and the ability to effectively guide clients through complex legal matters.
Mr. Rubin is a member of the Loudoun County Bar Association and the Fairfax County Bar Association. Mr. Rubin and his wife reside in Bethesda, Maryland.