North Carolina

Smith Anderson’s Raleigh litigation team combines commanding North Carolina experience with the capacity to manage complex disputes of national significance. Its work spans commercial litigation, product liability, construction, land use and public law.

Christopher G. Smith and H. Hunter Bruton secured dismissal for Duke Energy in Town of Carrboro v. Duke Energy Corporation, a first-of-its-kind municipal climate-change action that attracted national attention.
Addie S. Ries leads the representation of Dynax in approximately 17,000 PFAS-related claims consolidated in the nationwide AFFF multidistrict litigation. Working alongside Kirk G. Warner and Clifton L. Brinson, Ries demonstrates the firm’s strength in large-scale product-liability and environmental disputes.

Brinson also led the defense of Leyline Renewable Capital and related entities in BioGas Corp. v. NC Biogas Development. The plaintiffs sought approximately $70 million concerning renewable-energy projects; their claims were dismissed in full, with judgment entered for the defendants.

Smith further directed the coordinated defense of UniTrust Financial Group and more than 25 insurance agents across six related lawsuits. Supported by Isaac Linnartz, John Harris and John Jo, the team secured a discovery stay, coordinated dispositive motions and helped achieve a global settlement resolving every action.

The firm strengthened its land-use practice with the arrival of Robin L. Tatum in Raleigh. In Hot Rock Haulers v. Person County, Tatum established that the client’s storage yard was permitted as of right and obtained an award of attorneys’ fees.

Andrew P. Atkins is a key construction litigator. In a $3 million dispute with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concerning a Special Operations Forces facility at Fort Bragg, Atkins obtained a favorable settlement that included a monetary payment, no liquidated damages and an advantageous adjustment to the contractor’s performance ratings.

Other prominent partners include Michael W. Mitchell in appellate and commercial disputes, Mitch Armbruster in commercial and administrative litigation, and Kerry A. Shad in employment litigation. The depth of its partner-led bench and the scale of its recent casework place Smith Anderson among North Carolina’s strongest disputes practices.



Updated October 2026