Board picks Philly lawyer as new solicitor

NORRISTOWN » The Montgomery County Commissioners recently announced that Shelley R. Smith is joining the county’s senior team as county solicitor.

Smith served as city solicitor under Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter for eight years. Her annual salary is $150,856.

“Shelley will be a wonderful addition to the county’s strong legal team and our senior staff,” said commissioners’ Chairwoman Val Arkoosh. “Her wealth of experience as solicitor for Philadelphia will help her hit the ground running in Montgomery County.”

Smith is also a partner at Archer & Greiner, P.C., in Philadelphia, where she handles litigation, labor/ employment and general counsel practice for public and private clients. She has previously served as associate general counsel, Regulatory Affairs for Exelon Corp. and was of counsel at Ballard Spahr, LLP.

From 1992 to 2006, she worked for the City of Philadelphia, where she ascended from assistant city solicitor for general trials to chair of the Corporate and Tax Group. She clerked for The Honorable Robert N.C. Nix Jr., chief justice of Pennsylvania, at the beginning of her legal career.

“Shelley has represented governments, hospitals, large corporations and nonprofits. We are excited that she is bringing her considerable legal expertise here to Montgomery County,” added board Vice Chairman Ken Lawrence Jr. “We have hired the best candidate to lead our team of nine attorneys in the Montgomery County Office of the Solicitor. We look forward to working with Shelley.”

Smith earned her law degree from Villanova University School of Law and her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Temple University.

Former Solicitor Raymond McGarry stepped down from his post in February after five years of service to return to his law firm — Brown McGarry and Nimeroff — full time. Deputy Solicitor Josh Stein filled the position in the interim.