Thompson Hine LLP proudly announces that partner and Executive Committee member Robyn Minter Smyers has been honored with the Urban League of Greater Cleveland’s prestigious Steven A. Minter Legacy Award, which is named after her father and recognizes her unwavering commitment to community service, leadership, and the advancement of equal opportunity.
Steven A. Minter was a steadfast supporter of the Urban League for nearly 50 years, and receiving an award that pays tribute to his dedication is a profound honor for Smyers. Upholding her father’s legacy is a deeply personal mission, and she is devoted to continuing his work in empowering communities and fostering equity.
Smyers, a Thompson Hine partner since 2005, is a past chair of the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiative, past Cleveland office partner in charge, and current member of the Executive Committee. Her legal practice focuses on complex real estate transactions, including those involving shopping centers, urban redevelopment, housing, manufacturing plants, distribution centers, hospitality properties, and public-private partnerships.
Among Smyers’ most notable career achievements is her role in advancing community impact projects in Cleveland. She was instrumental in the redevelopment of Cleveland’s Public Square, the development of the Hilton Cleveland Downtown, and the redevelopment of the Highland Park Golf Course. She is currently working on the restoration of the West Side Market and redevelopment of the Cuyahoga Riverfront. Additionally, Smyers has served as outside real estate counsel to the Cleveland Foundation, navigating numerous property acquisitions, brownfield cleanups, and the construction of the Foundation’s new headquarters and innovation campus.
Smyers’ dedication to civic causes extends beyond her professional achievements. She is chair of the Cleveland Foundation’s African American Philanthropy Committee and serves on the boards of the George W. Codrington Charitable Foundation, Treu-Mart Fund, Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, and City Club of Cleveland, where she was previously the president. She also is a past board member of the George Gund Foundation.
Smyers’ commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, and democracy is evident in her extensive volunteer work and participation in professional and community organizations, and her leadership and contributions have been widely recognized. She has been selected by Crain’s Cleveland Business as a Notable Black Leader, a Notable Nonprofit Board Leader, and a Woman of Note. She received the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Cleveland Richard H. Adler Community Leadership Award and has been honored as the Black Professional of the Year by the Black Professionals Association Charitable Foundation and as the Humanitarian of the Year by the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio. She has been named to the Inside Business Power 100 List, recognized as a YWCA of Greater Cleveland Woman of Achievement, and named three times to Savoy Magazine’s list of Most Influential Black Lawyers. In addition, Smyers is a Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and has been listed in Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and The Best Lawyers in America. Her integrity, character, and dedication to mentoring and supporting her colleagues and providing unparalleled client service make Smyers an indispensable member of Thompson Hine’s management team. Her passion for civic service and her role as a champion for diversity and inclusion have made a lasting impact on the legal profession and the broader community.