Smith Anderson Culture Earns #1 Spot for Best Places to Work Ranking
Smith Anderson has been named the #1 Best Place to Work in the Triangle Business Journal’s 2025 rankings, earning the top spot in the Extra-Large Employers category. This marks the firm’s sixth consecutive appearance on the list, which honors 50 of the region’s most admired workplaces.
The Best Places to Work recognition is based on employee feedback in areas such as business direction, management effectiveness, employee engagement, work/life balance, compensation, benefits and workplace culture. The 2025 honorees represent a range of industries from legal and professional services to technology, construction and life sciences.
"What makes Smith Anderson exceptional are our people and the relationships we share," said Byron Kirkland, managing partner of Smith Anderson. "Whether we’re supporting one another or serving our clients, it’s the way we work together that makes Smith Anderson such a special place."
That culture is reflected in the firm’s remarkable employee longevity, where the average tenure exceeds 13 years, and nearly 80 colleagues have been with the firm for more than 20 years, well above national averages. From a spirited employee Field Day, March Madness viewing parties, annual Super Bowl celebrations and daily snacks, to Hurricanes ticket raffles and the firm’s annual Week of Service, Smith Anderson invests intentionally in building relationships and fostering a genuine sense of belonging. These traditions and events are more than perks—they are designed to strengthen connections, celebrate our people and encourage engagement beyond day-to-day work. In 2024, the firm launched the Santo J. Costa Humanity in the Workplace Award to honor acts of kindness and humanity, reflecting the values that shape our culture. Smith Anderson also renewed its downtown Raleigh lease based on employee feedback, underscoring the firm’s commitment to listening to its team and creating a workplace where they feel at home.
Each year, Smith Anderson attorneys and staff contribute thousands of hours of pro bono legal work, volunteer service and philanthropic support through the Smith Anderson Community Fund, the Week of Service and partnerships with civic and charitable organizations across North Carolina and beyond.
Founded in 1912 and headquartered in downtown Raleigh, Smith Anderson is home to more than 250 attorneys and staff dedicated to client service excellence with 50+ practice areas across nine core areas. The firm is recognized for its collaborative culture, innovative legal solutions and unwavering commitment to integrity, diversity and community engagement.
The full list of winners is available on the Triangle Business Journal’s website.
About Triangle Business Journal
Triangle Business Journal (TBJ) is the leading source of business news and events covering all industries in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, North Carolina and the surrounding areas. The Business Journals report on local and national issues that impact businesses and are a division of the American City Business Journals (ACBJ), the largest publisher of metropolitan business newsweeklies in the United States.