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, Mr. Smith and his wife Amy Smith, a financial advisor, undertook a local newspaper column dedicated to "Planning for Life." Since 2020, he has served on the board of Joni & Friends.

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.

Mr. Smith is a member of the bar of Virginia, and held memberships in the District of Columbia bar (1973 to 2025) and the Maryland Bar (1996 to 2022). 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.

Click here for Dan Smith’s CV.

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. 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 as Commissioner in Chancery for the Circuit Court of Loudoun County through October, 2025.

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.

Click here for Frank Pugh’s CV.

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 their four children.

Click here for Jonathan Nelson’s CV.

Christopher S. Woodruff, Esq.

PARTNeR

habLO español, pero no fluidamente

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.

Click here for Chris Woodruff’s CV.

Maxwell J. S. Rubin, Esq.

Associate

Maxwell Rubin joined Smith Pugh & Nelson in 2026 and is a member of the Virginia State Bar. He received his law degree in 2024 from the University of Missouri School of Law – Columbia and a B.A. in Political Science and Mandarin Chinese from St. Olaf College in 2021.

While in law school, Mr. Rubin served as a research assistant for a property law professor, clerked at various law firms, and was Associate Managing Editor of the Business, Entrepreneurship, and Tax Law Review (2022 - 2024). During college, he interned for a Maine state senator and a U.S. Congressman, and served on several political campaigns.

Mr. Rubin has extensive contract law experience. He provides attentive service to his clients and insightful, high-level assistance to the firm in the areas of research, real estate, and litigation support.

Mr. Rubin and his wife live in Bethesda, Maryland.

Click here for Maxwell Rubin’s CV.