Michael R. Smith, Esq.
Mike is a native of Sussex County that received his B.A. in Criminal Justice & Political Science (concentration in Public Law) from the University of Delaware, and his J.D. from Villanova University School of Law. Mike has served as the past President of the Sussex County Bar Association, and Vice President of the Delaware State Bar Association. Mike is also a member of the Terry-Carey American Inns of Court.
Following graduation from law school, Mike served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Richard F. Stokes in the Superior Court of the State of Delaware. Mike's subsequent years in private practice led to the creation of The Smith Firm, LLC, in which Mike is the principal member.
Mike's practice is primarily focused in the areas of transactional real estate, including both residential and commercial settlements; commercial litigation, including debt collection actions of all sizes; representation of associations, ranging from five unit condominium communities to large mixed use communities with hundreds of units; business formations and acquisitions; estate planning; and, general civil litigation.
Blake W. Carey, Esq.
Blake is a graduate of Milford Senior High School, Milford, Delaware (2001); University of Delaware (B.S., Economics, 2005); and Widener University School of Law, Wilmington, Delaware (J.D., 2008). Blake practices primarily out of our Rehoboth Beach office, but will travel throughout the State for his clients.
Blake was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the State of Delaware in 2008 and is currently a member of the Delaware State and Sussex County Bar Associations. His areas of practice include the following: representing both purchasers or lenders in commercial and residential real estate transactions; business formations and transfers, including the drafting, review and negotiation of leases, non-competition agreements, and purchase and sale agreements, along with preparing applications for new, or transfers of existing, liquor licenses; estate administration and planning; and civil litigation relating to the aforesaid areas. Blake also handles a heavy array of personal injury matters, including wrongful death, automobile accidents, and slip and fall accidents caused by the negligence of others. Throughout his career, Blake has practiced in all trial courts within the State of Delaware, including the Court of Chancery. Professionally, he also serves on the board of the Delaware Trial Lawyers Association as a co-membership chair.
A Sussex County native, Blake currently resides in Rehoboth Beach with his wife, Kim, and their two children, as well as their beloved Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Ollie. Outside of the office Blake enjoys fishing, sailing, and a variety of philanthropic activities. Blake is a Past King Lion of the Dewey Beach Lions Club – one of the largest Lions Clubs in its district. He also serves on other non-profit boards in Sussex County, including the Sussex County Land Trust. Blake is a 2010 graduate of Leadership Delaware (
www.leadershipdelaware.com).
Chad R. Lingenfelder, Esq.
Sussex Central High School - 2004
Gettysburg College - 2008
Widener University School of Law - 2011
Maryland Bar - 2012
Delaware Bar - 2012
Chad is a Sussex County native who was born and raised in Georgetown, Delaware. Graduated Sussex Central High School in 2004, he was a letterman in Football, Golf, and Tennis as well as his class and Student Council Treasurer. On the President's Academic Scholarship, he attended Gettysburg College and graduated with Honors in 2008 receiving dual degrees in Political Science and Secondary Education. He pursued his passion for government and the law by attending Widener University School of Law in Wilmington, Delaware graduating in 2011 with Pro Bono distinction for his community service work.
Chad's work experiences have included being a Summer Law Clerk for the Honorable Kenneth S. Clark in the Sussex Court of Common Pleas, Legislative Attorney Intern for the Delaware House of Representatives, and as a Prosecutorial Intern for the Delaware Office of the Attorney General. In 2012, he worked as the Kent and Sussex County Regional Field Director for U.S. Senator Tom Carper. Since 2013, Chad has been in private practice dealing with all types of legal matters including: criminal law, traffic law, civil law, family law, landlord/tenant issues, wills and trusts, and pardons/expungements in both Delaware and Maryland.
Throughout Chad's life, he has always enjoyed community service and outreach. He continues to coach at his high school alum mater as an instructor for the team's annual Wing-T Football Camp, volunteers for 100 Men Reading program that reads to Elementary School children and reinforces positive male interactions, was volunteer counsel for Southern Delaware Botanic Gardens, and helps in local soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and non-profits throughout Sussex County.
Chad is an active member in the Delaware State Bar Association, Maryland State Bar Association, Sussex County Bar Association, and the Terry-Carey Inn of Court.
A true Sussex Countian at heart, Chad enjoys the outdoors, actively participating and watching sports, weightlifting, hunting, fishing, reading history and political novels, politics, and living life to the fullest.
Amit U. Vyas, Esq.
Licensed in Delaware and Washington D.C.
Former Deputy Attorney General for the Delaware Department of Justice (Trial Unit) and former Judicial Law Clerk for the Delaware Superior Court and Delaware Supreme Court.
As a former Criminal Prosecutor (Deputy Attorney General) for the Delaware Department of Justice, Amit worked criminal cases ranging from traffic violations to DUI charges to First Degree Murder. Amit developed a deep understanding for how DUI and other criminal cases are prosecuted and now defends his clients to protect their rights.
As a former Judicial Law Clerk for the Delaware Superior Court and Delaware Supreme Court, Amit learned from the best judges in the State of Delaware and developed his skills under their tutelage and mentorship.
Amit earned his Law Degree from Syracuse University College of Law and simultaneously earned his Masters Degree in International Relations from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University - the nation’s top-ranked school for public affairs.
Amit is focusing his areas of practice in the following:
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DUI Defense and Delaware Criminal Defense
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Delaware Civil Court Disputes
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Real Estate Closings
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Wills, Trusts, and Estate (Probate) Administration
Amit was raised and lives in Lewes, Delaware. Amit spends his free time with his family, dog Daisy, and cats Nellie and Nala.
