Addie Ries Among Nation’s Top 250 Women Litigators

Smith Anderson partner Addie Ries has been recognized in Benchmark Litigation’s 2026 Top 250 Women in Litigation, marking her fifth consecutive year on the list.

The annual publication highlights leading female litigators in the United States who have handled some of the most significant litigation matters in recent years and are highly regarded by peers and clients alike.

Addie co-leads Smith Anderson’s Toxic Torts, PFAS, and Asbestos Litigation team. With a deep understanding of the legal and scientific issues shaping PFAS, asbestos, pharmaceutical, and other toxic tort litigation nationwide, Addie serves as primary and national counsel in individual actions, class actions, and multidistrict litigation. Outside the courtroom, Addie regularly advises product manufacturers on a wide range of product liability and toxic tort matters.

In addition to her Top 250 Women in Litigation recognition, Addie has been named a North Carolina Litigation Star for the last four years by Benchmark Litigation. She has also been recognized by Legal 500 in its North Carolina Elite guide for Commercial Disputes, and The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants.

This most recent recognition adds to Smith Anderson’s continued distinction from Benchmark Litigation. Earlier this year, the publication named Smith Anderson North Carolina Firm of the Year for the seventh consecutive year and awarded the firm its highest possible rating of “Highly Recommended.”

Click here to view the complete 2026 Top Women in Litigation list.                                                                          

Benchmark Litigation is the definitive guide to the leading litigation law firms and lawyers around the world. Since its inception in 2008, Benchmark has grown dramatically and garnered industry-wide accolades as the hub for in-depth analysis of the players shaping the practice of litigation. The growth of the brand has driven demand for its expansion to service other markets beyond the U.S. including, Canada, Latin America, the Asia-Pacific region and Europe. Additional details about Benchmark Litigation’s voting methodology can be viewed here.