Fifteen Attorneys Join Smith Anderson in Q3 Amid Record Year of Growth

New additions span Debt Finance, Litigation, Tax, Land Use and Zoning, and Health Care, with attorneys joining from firms including Kirkland & Ellis, Linklaters, Williams & Connolly, and Fenwick, bringing the firm’s 2026 attorney hires to 25.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Smith Anderson welcomed 15 attorneys during the third quarter of 2026, marking one of the firm’s largest periods of attorney growth in recent years and continuing a significant year of expansion for the firm.

The additions strengthen Smith Anderson’s capabilities across several key practices and industry teams, including its globally recognized AgTech team and nationally recognized Life Sciences team. The new attorneys bring experience from leading national and international law firms, government service, in-house legal departments, and judicial clerkships. Several also return to Smith Anderson after previously working with the firm as summer associates, while others are beginning their legal careers at the firm.

“Our growth is being driven by the needs of our clients and the opportunities we see across the market,” said Managing Partner Byron Kirkland. “We are continuing to add exceptional lawyers at every level, from experienced partners with deep practices who can step in on sophisticated matters today, to talented attorneys at the beginning of their careers who will help shape Smith Anderson’s future.”

The firm’s third-quarter additions include: 

Corporate, Finance, and Tax 

Smith Anderson expanded its corporate, finance, and tax bench with attorneys whose backgrounds span complex transactions, corporate finance, tax structuring, in-house legal work, and science-driven industries. 

Lauren Dickinson advises businesses on corporate and transactional matters, bringing a distinctive background at the intersection of law, science, and technology. Before earning her law degree, she earned a Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from Yale University, where her research focused on gene editing and biotechnology. Lauren joins Smith Anderson’s AgTech and Life Sciences teams, where her scientific training provides additional perspective in advising innovation-driven companies. 

Jaren Hagler joins Smith Anderson’s Tax group, bringing significant experience in the tax structuring of complex corporate transactions and partnership tax matters. His practice spans mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, joint ventures, investment structuring, private equity and health care transactions, and federal and state tax planning. The firm previously announced Jaren’s arrival, highlighting that his addition further expands the firm’s transactional tax capabilities. 

Tess Peterson advises clients on corporate finance, lending, and transactional matters as a member of the firm’s Debt Finance team. She brings both in-house and private practice experience representing corporate borrowers, sponsors, and financial institutions in domestic and cross-border financing transactions. Before joining Smith Anderson, Tess served as Legal Director and Risk Manager for a global manufacturing company and previously practiced with large international law firms in Georgia, New York, and Texas. 

Intellectual Property and Technology 

Amber Knepper focuses her practice on intellectual property, data privacy and security, and technology transactions. She advises investors and businesses on protecting and commercializing intellectual property assets, privacy and security compliance, intellectual property due diligence, and technology-focused commercial agreements. Before joining Smith Anderson, Amber practiced at Fenwick, a leading national law firm focused on serving technology and life sciences companies. 

Litigation 

Five attorneys joined Smith Anderson’s Litigation practice, bringing experience from prominent law firms, federal and state courts, and the North Carolina Business Court across complex commercial, intellectual property, class action, and appellate matters.

Will Crawford joins Smith Anderson’s Litigation practice after serving as a judicial clerk for Judge Julianna Earp of the North Carolina Business Court. He also gained experience through a judicial externship with Chief Justice Paul Newby of the North Carolina Supreme Court and a judicial internship with then-U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Rodriguez, now a U.S. District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina.

Rachel Grossman represents clients in complex commercial disputes, including class actions and other significant claims, with experience spanning litigation from injunctive proceedings through appeals. Before joining Smith Anderson, Rachel practiced with boutique law firm HWG and international firm Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C., and clerked for U.S. Magistrate Judge Robin M. Meriweather of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Robert Hartsmith navigates high-stakes business disputes, with a focus on intellectual property and patent litigation. Prior to Smith Anderson, Robert practiced at Williams & Connolly in Washington, D.C., where he litigated complex patent disputes between life science companies in various district courts, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Steven Stenquist assists clients with complex business disputes. Before entering private practice, Steve served as a judicial clerk to Chief Judge Michael L. Robinson of the North Carolina Business Court, where he worked on complex commercial matters and judicial opinions. He also served as an extern to Justice Patrick Fischer of the Supreme Court of Ohio.

Peter Vogel represents plaintiffs and defendants in high-stakes commercial disputes involving pharmaceutical, technology, financial services, and other industries. He has extensive experience defending class actions, particularly false advertising claims, and advising employers on workplace policies. Before joining Smith Anderson, Peter practiced in New York at international law firm Linklaters and Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler.

Real Estate Development 

Smith Anderson added three attorneys to its Real Estate Development team, a 30-plus-lawyer group that advises clients on complex matters across the full development life cycle, from project concept and development to completion. The additions further strengthen the firm’s capabilities across commercial real estate, land use and zoning, and development-related regulatory matters.

Seth Berliner advises real estate developers, institutional investors, and private equity funds on complex transactions across the full asset lifecycle, including acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, construction financings, and commercial leasing. Before joining Smith Anderson, Seth practiced at global law firms Kirkland & Ellis and WilmerHale. 

Michael Birch brings more than 18 years of experience in complex land use, zoning, and development approvals advising landowners, developers, and businesses through all stages of the development process including rezoning, site plan review, permitting, code interpretations, and other land use matters. The firm previously announced Michael’s arrival as part of its nationally recognized Land Use and Zoning practice.

Hunt Choi brings more than two decades of experience as Deputy City Attorney in the Raleigh City Attorney’s Office to the firm’s Real Estate Development and Land Use and Zoning teams. He advises property owners, developers, and other stakeholders on land use and zoning matters, development disputes, construction contracts, eminent domain, regulatory compliance, and related litigation.

Workplace Law 

Smith Anderson expanded its Workplace Law team with attorneys whose backgrounds include employment counseling and litigation, internal investigations, regulatory matters, and public-sector legal leadership.

Alena Carr advises employers on a range of employment matters, including compliance, internal investigations, and employment agreements. Her prior experience includes two summer fellowships with the Office of the General Counsel at a large nonprofit health system, where she gained exposure to litigation, regulatory matters, and in-house legal operations.

Tamika Henderson brings more than 20 years of experience advising employers and organizational leaders in litigation, administrative proceedings, and day-to-day counseling and has served as first-chair counsel in more than 75 trials and evidentiary hearings. Before joining Smith Anderson, Tamika served as a Special Deputy Attorney General and section head at the North Carolina Department of Justice, where she led a team handling civil matters in state and federal courts and before administrative bodies.

Regulatory and Health Care

Smith Anderson also added depth at the intersection of health care, regulation, and public policy. 

Audrey Bowman focuses her practice on health care law, helping providers and other organizations navigate legal and regulatory issues affecting their businesses. Before joining Smith Anderson, Audrey interned with the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Vaccine Litigation in Washington, D.C., and worked as a staff member in the North Carolina General Assembly, providing her valuable insight into both the legal and public policy issues affecting regulated organizations.

The third-quarter additions reflect Smith Anderson’s strategic growth across practices and industry teams, adding depth and capabilities that position the firm to serve clients as their business, regulatory, transactional, and litigation needs continue to evolve in complexity.

---

Smith Anderson is the largest law firm headquartered in the Research Triangle region and provides a full range of business and litigation services across more than 50 practice areas.