Four Smith Anderson Lawyers Recognized Among North Carolina's Most Influential Attorneys

North Carolina Lawyers Weekly has selected four Smith Anderson partners for its inaugural North Carolina Legal 250, a new annual recognition highlighting 250 of the state's leading attorneys across 40 practice areas. The honor recognizes lawyers whose leadership, professional accomplishments, and influence are helping shape North Carolina's legal profession.

The following Smith Anderson attorneys were selected in their respective practice areas and are featured in individual profiles by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly:

• David Berry – Environmental Law
• Pete Marino – Construction Law
• Kerry Shad – Employment Law
• Robin Tatum – Real Estate Law

A former assistant attorney general in the North Carolina Department of Justice's Environmental Division, David Berry is recognized in Environmental Law for his leadership in advising businesses on environmental compliance, permitting, enforcement matters, site remediation, and environmental issues arising in complex business transactions. As co-leader of Smith Anderson's Environmental practice, he counsels clients on regulatory compliance and permitting, environmental risk management, the sale and acquisition of contaminated properties, environmental due diligence, defense of environmental enforcement and private party actions, and renewable energy project development. David is consistently recognized by Chambers USA and Best Lawyers® and is a trusted advisor to clients across a broad range of regulated industries.

One of North Carolina's leading construction attorneys, Pete Marino is recognized in Construction Law for his leadership in representing owners, developers, contractors, and design professionals in complex construction projects and disputes, from contract negotiation and project counseling to high-stakes litigation. Co-chair of Smith Anderson’s Real Estate Development group and Construction practice, he has served as lead counsel on some of the Southeast’s most significant infrastructure projects, including North Carolina’s first Interstate toll road project, the state’s first and second light rail projects, numerous international airport projects and a LEED-certified World Headquarters campus for a Fortune 500 company. Pete served as Managing Editor and contributing co-author of four editions of the North Carolina Construction Law Deskbook, and is consistently ranked by Chambers USA, Best Lawyers®, and Business North Carolina's Legal Elite.

Recognized in Employment Law, Kerry Shad earned recognition for her nationally respected practice representing employers in complex employment-related litigation and providing strategic counsel on a broad range of workplace matters. As co-leader of the firm’s Employment, Labor and Human Resources group, she advises employers across numerous industries on workplace policies, compliance, and investigations, and regularly defends employers against EEOC charges and lawsuits in federal and state courts involving alleged discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. She is consistently recognized by leading legal ranking publications, including Chambers USA, Benchmark Litigation’s Top 50 Employment and Labor Litigators, and Best Lawyers®, and is known for helping employers navigate their most challenging workplace issues.

Widely regarded as one of North Carolina's leading authorities on land use and zoning development matters, Robin Tatum is recognized in Real Estate Law for her distinguished career in land use, zoning and real estate litigation. A former city attorney for both Raleigh and Asheville, Robin brings a rare insider's perspective to her work representing local governments, private businesses, developers, and property owners. Her practice encompasses land use and zoning litigation and appeals, development approvals, entitlements, historic preservation, impact fees, development agreements, and public-private partnerships. She has litigated some of the most important zoning and land use appellate cases and has advised on some of North Carolina's most significant development projects. Robin has earned recognition from Chambers USA and is a recipient of the Triangle Business Journal’s “Women in Business” award.