Clients Praise Byron Kirkland and Ed Roche with All-Star Recognition

Corporate counsel nationwide have recognized Smith Anderson Managing Partner Byron Kirkland and partner Ed Roche as BTI Consulting Group’s 2025 Client Service All-Stars. This exclusive honor is based solely on unprompted feedback from clients, who identified 240 attorneys across the country as delivering the very best in client service.

BTI’s All-Stars are known for anticipating client needs, embedding themselves in decision-making and delivering practical, business-ready advice under tight timeframes.

Byron, a corporate lawyer with deep experience in private equity and M&A, is praised by clients as “very experienced and [with] a sophisticated business understanding.” He describes his approach to client service as being accessible and responsive, while “caring deeply about the client’s needs and goals and delivering practical, value-added services and advice.”

Ed, a copyright and trademark litigator focused on complex business disputes, is recognized as “responsive, with great thought leadership” and he “frequently wins.” His philosophy emphasizes equipping clients with clear, plain-English advice and aggressive representation when litigation arises: “I aim to build a true partnership with each client, providing practical guidance and efficiency at every step.”

BTI’s research identifies attorneys who consistently deliver practical, commercially fluent advice and shape client decision-making at the highest levels. These All-Stars are known for:

• Embedding themselves in client decision-making, often in real time.
• Translating legal complexity into simple, actionable choices.
• Delivering innovative solutions and new perspectives.
• Operating under compressed time frames while maintaining precision.

To view the entire list of BTI’s Client Service All-Stars, click here.