Mary Beth Bellwood

M. Lee Smith Publishers (MLSP) is a leading provider of legal and practical information for human resources practitioners, attorneys, and other business and legal professionals. The company started in 1975 with one weekly newsletter, The Tennessee Journal, which gave a behind-the-scenes report on the Tennessee legislature. Today, the company has an extensive catalog of products and services providing state-specific and federal legal information covering all 50 states in print, online, and on DVD. The company also produces business directories and holds live, audio, and online conferences. To create this wealth of legal information, M. Lee Smith Publishers founded the Employers Counsel Network (ECN), made up of select, top-level law firms in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Canada. The attorneys from these firms represent employers in workplace issues and disputes. Many of them also present at MLSP conferences and are featured in MLSP supervisor and employee training videos on employment law. The company also works with other source experts to provide top-notch legal information products and services. In 2005, Dan Oswald purchased the company from founder M. Lee Smith. The company continues to focus on providing high-quality legal information while expanding its audience and catalog of products and embracing new media.