Clark Smith

Clark graduated from The University of Texas School of Law in 2008. He was a co-founder of the St. Thomas More Society. His second year, he worked as a teaching assistant for a 1L Con Law class. Most notably, in 2005, Clark lost to Rad in the 1L intramural football championship game.

Prior to law school, Clark graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a double major in Plan II and History with a German language minor.

Prior to joining Vela Wood, Clark served as General Counsel at the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission from 2017-2022. In that capacity, Clark worked with members of the alcohol industry in Texas, nationwide, and abroad. He oversaw the development of hundreds of administrative rules and policy advisories, and assisted in drafting legislation that modernized the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code. He works with general counsels at peer agencies across the country. Before TABC, Clark worked in state government and private practice focusing on appellate litigation and public policy matters.

At Vela Wood, Clark advises clients working through regulatory processes at the local, state, and federal level. During his time at TABC, Clark worked with his agency clients on finding ways to lessen the regulatory burden on businesses trying to get into the alcohol industry. He brings that approach to Vela Wood. Businesses trying to crack into the alcoholic beverage industry go to Clark for his expertise and TABC know-how. In addition, he utilizes his TABC experience to represent clients in different industries at various government agencies.

Clark is active in the National Conference of Liquor Administrators, and mentors UT law students. He is a fellow of the State Bar Foundation.

Clark is from Houston but has lived in Austin off and on since 2000, long enough to complain about it. He and his wife, Lindsay, have a daughter and a son (and another son on the way in late 2022). He likes going to church, playing golf with his kids, and mixing tiki cocktails.