Smith Anderson Promotes Five Attorneys to Partner and Counsel
Smith Anderson, the largest law firm headquartered in the Research Triangle region, announced the election of Samuel A. Hipps, William M. Pugh and James R. Todd to Partner, and Taylor M. Dewberry and Josiah S. Irvin to Counsel, effective January 1, 2026.
"These talented attorneys have made outstanding contributions during their associate tenure to our clients, our firm and our community," said Byron Kirkland, Smith Anderson’s Managing Partner. "We are proud to recognize their achievements and look forward to their continued leadership."
About the Attorneys
Sam joined the firm in 2022 after starting his career at an international law firm in Washington, D.C., and is a member of our Finance practice group, where he focuses on venture debt and other debt finance transactions for lenders and borrowers. He is a mentor to junior associates and created and implemented a junior associate training program. Sam has been named to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, Banking and Finance Law (2024-2026) and he attended the University of North Carolina Law School, from which he graduated with Honors.
Will joined Smith Anderson in 2019 from an international law firm in Palo Alto, C.A. and is a member of our Start-Ups and Corporate and M&A practice groups, where he advises clients on a wide variety of legal issues such as venture capital, financings, corporate formation and governance, and regulatory compliance. Since joining our firm, Will has been a critical component of our thriving Start-Ups practice group. Will has been named to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, Venture Capital Law (2022-2026), and he attended Duke University School of Law, from which he graduated cum laude.
James joined our firm in 2021 and is a member of our Real Estate Development team’s Commercial Real Estate, Land Use and Zoning, and Right-of-Way Acquisition and Condemnation practice groups. He counsels clients on a broad range of development and zoning/entitlement issues. He also provides M&A deal assistance when needed. James spends time mentoring and developing other associates in the group, serving as an Associate Mentor. He is recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, Real Estate Law (2024-2026) and is a graduate of the Raleigh Chamber’s Leadership Raleigh program. James graduated summa cum laude from Campbell Law School.
Taylor began her legal career at Smith Anderson as a summer associate prior to joining full-time in 2017. A member of our Workplace Law team’s Employment, Labor and Human Resources practice group, she focuses on employment-related counseling and defending employers in administrative proceedings against claims involving discrimination and retaliation. Taylor is also our firm’s Chief Diversity Officer and serves on the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee and manages the firm's Mansfield certification process.
A committed leader in the legal community, Taylor’s impact has been widely recognized. In 2025, the North Carolina Bar Association honored her with the Robinson O. Everett Professionalism Award. She was named a Leader in Diversity by Triangle Business Journal in 2024 and recognized as one of North Carolina’s 50 Most Influential Women by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly and The Mecklenburg Times. Since 2022, she has been listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in Labor and Employment Law – Management, and in 2020 was named among The National Black Lawyers Top 100 and Top 40 Under 40. Taylor serves on the NCBA Board of Governors and has held leadership roles within that organization’s Young Lawyers Division, including as Co-Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Disaster Legal Services Committee. She attended Washington University School of Law from which she graduated cum laude.
Josiah joined the firm in 2022 from an international law firm in Washington, D.C., and New York City and is a member of our Regulatory team’s Healthcare practice group with a focus on advising clients on health care regulatory, enforcement and transactional matters. He is also active with our Corporate and M&A, Technology Transactions, Data Privacy and Security, and Intellectual Property practice groups. Josiah is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Health Law Section, and he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Society of Health Care Attorneys in 2024. Josiah has been named to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, Health Care Law (2026) and attended Boston University School of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude.
Professionals
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