Krieg DeVault LLP Announces Stephen D. Smith Selected for "The Best Lawyers in America 2008 (25^th Anniversary Edition)"
October 10, 2007

Indianapolis, Indiana - The law firm of Krieg DeVault LLP, Indianapolis, Indiana, is pleased to announce that partner Stephen D. Smith has been selected by his professional peers to be included in the 2008, 25^th Anniversary Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Employee Benefits Law.

Mr. Smith has dedicated his private law practice primarily to employee stock ownership plans ("ESOPs") and structuring ESOP transactions. Mr. Smith has been responsible for structuring over 175 ESOP transactions for public and private companies. He also designs and implements equity and non-equity-based incentive compensation programs for public and private companies. Mr. Smith represents ESOP sponsors, ESOP fiduciaries, including employer-appointed "committees" and independent ESOP trustees, in ESOP transactions throughout the United States, including the sale of ESOP companies and the termination of ESOPs.

He holds AB and JD degrees from Indiana University and an LLM in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center. He is a member of the American and Indiana State Bar Associations. He is also a member of The ESOP Association and its Interdisciplinary Committee on Fiduciary Affairs and Indiana Chapter, The National Center for Employee Ownership, Employee-Owned S Corporations of America ("ESCA") and its Advisory Board, and the Indiana Benefits Conference.

Krieg DeVault LLP is a 120-plus member professional, diversified law firm representing a wide variety of local, regional and national clients. It is a general practice commercial law firm dating back to the 1870s with offices in Indianapolis, Carmel, and Hammond, Indiana as well as Chicago, Illinois. The firm's attorneys have significant experience in key areas that address the needs of a diversified client base. Through its membership in Meritas, the firm's ability to assist clients reaches around the world. For more information, please visit www.kriegdevault.com.