Andrew Atkins Named ‘Leaders in the Law’ by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly

Andrew Atkins, co-chair of Smith Anderson’s Construction & Infrastructure practice, has been named to the 2026 Leaders in the Law list presented by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly’s Excellence in Law.

Excellence in Law honors members of the North Carolina Bar through three categories, Icons, Leaders and Phenoms. Andrew was recognized in the Leaders category, which honors attorneys who have made important contributions to the practice of law in the state, the legal community, and the community at large. The awards ceremony was held at The Friday Conference Center in Chapel Hill on April 23, 2026.

Andrew represents owners, contractors and developers in complex construction disputes involving public and private commercial projects. His experience includes multi-party litigation, alternative dispute resolution, contracting matters and a variety of other real estate, commercial, contract and business-related disputes. He has represented clients in some of North Carolina’s most significant construction disputes, including multimillion-dollar claims related to state-owned psychiatric hospitals, a light rail system and public highways. In addition to co-leading the firm’s Construction & Infrastructure practice, Andrew serves as Smith Anderson’s eDiscovery partner-in-charge, helping clients manage large-scale discovery efficiently and strategically. He is also a member of the firm’s AI Task Force.

Andrew’s professional and community involvement includes leadership roles with the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys, the American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law and the North Carolina Bar Association Construction Section, where he serves on the Executive Committee and as treasurer. He also served on the North Carolina General Assembly’s Rules Review Commission from 2017 to 2023, including as first vice chair.

Andrew’s accolades include rankings by Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America®, Benchmark Litigation, Business North Carolina Legal Elite and North Carolina Super Lawyers. He also received the North Carolina Bar Association’s Robinson O. Everett Professionalism Award in 2022.

The full list of the 2026 Excellence in Law winners can be viewed here.