Kelly Kibbey Smith’s practice is focused on governmental relations, with a specialization in health care and legislation. She is Board Certified in Health Law by The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education. Prior to joining Dean Mead, she worked as a Senior Attorney in the Florida Senate Committee on Health Policy where she analyzed and provided counsel regarding proposed legislation and monitored the implementation of enacted legislation. Before transferring to the committee, Kelly worked in Senate Bill Drafting Services where she became a creative expert at writing and revising bills and amendments. Her work can be found throughout the 2017-2022 Florida Statutes and Laws of Florida relating to managed care, telehealth, facility regulation, licensure, scope of practice, drug importation, and medical marijuana.

Before joining the Senate, Kelly was an associate at a small firm where she practiced family law, criminal defense, and personal injury. Leveraging her ability to think like a trial attorney, she is skilled at identifying issues and closing loopholes in draft legislation prior to it being filed.

Kelly has built connections spanning across Florida government. She is a past President of the Florida Government Bar Association and currently serves as a Governor for the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division, collectively representing over 26,000 members.

Kelly is the Chair of the Florida Bar’s Government Advocacy Committee which serves lawyer-lobbyists. She is a graduate of the Florida Bar’s Wm. Reece Smith, Jr., Leadership Academy and the Administrative Law Section’s Division of Administrative Hearings Trial Academy.

Born and raised in Fort Myers, she obtained a Bachelor of Science from Florida State University in 2012 and a Juris Doctor from Florida State University College of Law in 2015.