With more than 20 years of experience as a lawyer, senior business leader, and strategic advisor, Henry Smokler advises boards, executives, and high-performing organizations operating at scale. His practice focuses on crisis leadership, governance, high-stakes transactions, and emerging issues that pose regulatory, political, and reputational risk, among other matters.

Henry spent nearly a decade at the PGA of America, where he served as chief legal and risk officer and senior advisor. In that capacity, he served as principal and legal and strategic advisor to the chief executive officer, other executive leadership, the board of directors, and affiliated regional organizations. He directed the organization’s response to existential and reputational crises, led the enterprise-wide litigation strategy and investigations, and managed risk mitigation across complex matters. During his tenure, Henry also co-led the negotiation of long-term national media rights agreements with CBS, oversaw acquisitions and strategic investments, directed governance reform and nonprofit compliance initiatives, and led the development and negotiation of a transformative headquarters and mixed-use development project.

Prior to that, as senior legal and commercial leader at the national governing body of golf, he negotiated and executed a landmark multi-year media rights agreement with 21st Century Fox for more than $1 billion.

Earlier in his career, Henry practiced law in capital markets, executive compensation, and mergers and acquisitions transactions in the advertising, media, and technology sectors.

Education
Georgetown University Law Center, JD, cum laude, 1997
Cornell University, BA, with distinction, 1994

Admissions
New York