Power Duo Land Use Attorneys and Former City Attorneys Join Smith Anderson

Robin Tatum and Catherine Hill bring decades of land use and real estate experience in both the public and private sectors.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Smith Anderson is pleased to welcome two esteemed land use attorneys, Robin Tatum and Catherine Hill, to its nationally recognized Land Use and Zoning practice, led by partner Toby Coleman.

Robin, one of North Carolina’s most accomplished land use litigators, joins Smith Anderson as a partner, with Catherine joining as Counsel, both from the Raleigh office of a national law firm. Also joining them in the move from the same firm is paralegal Amanda Ball. Their arrival further strengthens the firm’s Real Estate Development group of more than 30 lawyers who advise on many of the state’s most significant development projects.

With more than 30 years of experience, Robin has represented local governments, private businesses and developers throughout North Carolina. She frequently serves as lead counsel in significant cases in state and federal courts, both at trial and on appeal, and helps clients with complex land use, zoning and land development challenges. Robin previously spent over 20 years in private practice at a regional firm in Raleigh before entering public service, where she served as City Attorney for both Raleigh and Asheville, N.C. for nearly a decade. She was also appointed as a municipal representative on a four-member drafting committee that rewrote the North Carolina General Statutes related to land use and zoning.

A frequent speaker on municipal and land use law, Robin is widely respected for her commitment to mentoring the next generation of lawyers—many of whom she has trained and who now practice across the region. Her many accolades include being listed in Chambers USA (Tier 1 for Zoning and Land Use), The Best Lawyers in America^©, North Carolina Super Lawyers, the Top 50 Women North Carolina Super Lawyers, and Martindale Hubbell’s AV Preeminent Judicial Edition.

Catherine, a former assistant city attorney for Raleigh and Asheville, brings more than a decade of public and private sector experience advising clients on zoning, land use and regulatory issues across the state. She has served as counsel to planning boards, boards of adjustment and historic preservation commissions, including serving as current Chair to the North Carolina Bar Association’s Zoning, Planning and Land Use Section.

“Robin and Catherine both bring strong relationships with municipal leaders and have deep knowledge of municipal processes across the state, making them a tremendous asset to our clients,” said Smith Anderson Managing Partner Byron Kirkland. “We’re thrilled to welcome Robin, Catherine and Amanda to Smith Anderson.”

Robin and Catherine's experience spans land development approvals, entitlements, zoning amendments and variances, historic preservation, impact fees, condemnation and eminent domain, environmental litigation, development agreements and public-private partnerships.

For more information about Smith Anderson and its team, visit www.smithlaw.com.