Attorneys
Katie M. Smith was born in Denver, Colorado. She was educated at the University of Northern Colorado (B.A. 2001) and Albany Law School of Union University (J.D. 2004). Katie was admitted to the New York and Colorado State bars in 2005.
Katie has been practicing in the Adirondacks since her admission to the Bar. Areas of practice include real estate, wills and trusts, probate and administration and general corporate matters.
Katie and her husband are very committed to the community and her daughter attended Lake Pleasant Central School. Katie serves as one of the Town Justices for the Town of Lake Pleasant and was Village of Speculator Attorney for 12 years. She is a former Officer and still member of the Lake Pleasant-Sacandaga Association and a member of the New York State Bar Association, Hamilton County Magistrates Association, and a member of D.R.A.G. Katie also formerly represented children in Family Court, served on the Lake Pleasant Central School Board, as Hamilton County Public Defender Coordinator and as Delegate to the 4th Judicial District Convention.
Ronile Lawrence was born in Bronxville, New York. She was admitted to the New York State Bar and U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York in 1979 and practiced law until her death. Ronile was educated at the University of Pennsylvania (B.A.1968), the University Of Cincinnati College Of Law (J.D.1978) and Syracuse University College of Law.
Throughout her years in general civil practice Ronile was a solo-practitioner and a partner in Lawrence & Granger in Syracuse, New York, before moving to the Adirondacks in 1997 where she practiced individually and as a partner in Lawrence & Smith, PLLC until her death in 2017. She also had served as Attorney for the Village of Speculator, Assistant County Attorney for Hamilton County, and Chair of the Town of Lake Pleasant Zoning Board of Appeals.
Ronile practiced primarily in the areas of family law, real estate law, wills and trusts, and estate law and she served as an Attorney for Children, representing children in Family Court. She lectured on family law topics at Syracuse University College of Law, Onondaga County Bar Association and serves as Liaison for the Hamilton County Attorneys for Children with the Appellate Division. In addition she volunteered as a panel member of the Surrogate Decision Making Committee program which provides informed consent for disabled persons in need of medical services.
Ronile was a member of Speculator Volunteer Ambulance Corps, New York State Bar Association, Hamilton County Magistrates Association, the Lake Pleasant-Sacandaga Association, the Town of Lake Pleasant Board of Assessment Review, the Board of Hamilton County Community Services and the vestry of St. Hubert’s of the Lakes Episcopal Church.