Real Estate Development

More than 30 lawyers strong, our Real Estate Development (RED) team is a collaborative group of land use, real estate, environmental and construction law professionals who have extensive experience representing companies in significant real estate developments – both public and private projects – including major mixed-use, office, infrastructure, manufacturing, multi-family, retail, natural resource and public utility projects. From project concept and development to completion, our team of real estate development lawyers counsel clients through every stage of a project. 

Built on Trust®

Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business has recognized our Real Estate Development practice and its lawyers as among the best in the state, making Smith Anderson one of the select few law firms in North Carolina to be awarded its highest ranking. Our lawyers and practices are recognized in areas including: Real Estate; Construction; Land Use & Zoning; Real Estate: Finance; and Environmental. 

Clients who were interviewed by Chambers have described our lawyers as “inventive in coming up with solutions,” demonstrating “impressive depth of knowledge” and “extremely detailed and thorough”. The group’s expertise and experience has also resulted in rankings from other industry publications that include U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms,” The Best Lawyers in America®, North Carolina Super Lawyers, Benchmark Litigation and Martindale-Hubbell®.

We are honored by the trust placed in us by owners, investors, lenders, sureties, developers, design professionals, contractors, construction companies, landlords and tenants throughout the Southeast who rely on our expertise.

Teamwork Built on Cohesive Collaboration

We have assembled a comprehensive range of Real Estate Development practices under one cohesive group, designed to serve clients through all phases of a project. Our RED Group includes legal professionals who work together across multiple related areas: 

Land Use and Zoning – We assist clients in navigating legislative, regulatory and political processes to select and acquire sites and successfully obtain entitlements and permits.
Commercial Real Estate – Our lawyers advise on all aspects of buying, selling and financing real estate, as well as ownership and development strategies for real estate development and investment. 
Construction, Construction Litigation and Infrastructure – We counsel owners, contractors and design firms to guide them through all stages of design and construction, from bidding and contracting to contract administration and claim avoidance and, if needed, dispute resolution, including litigation, arbitration and mediation.
Leasing – We have a national practice assisting clients regarding retail, office and industrial leases. 
Environmental and OSHA – We are experienced in analyzing complex environmental and regulatory issues and developing compliance and risk management strategies for our clients. 
Real Estate Litigation – Our group’s litigators focus on the resolution of real estate related disputes and advise and assist our clients in contracting, risk identification and evaluation, risk avoidance, and pre-litigation and litigation strategies.
Energy and Renewable Energy – We advise on the financing, contracting, siting, permitting, construction, operation and regulation of traditional (natural gas and coal), as well as renewable energy facilities.
Right of Way Acquisition & Condemnation – We represent utility companies and municipalities in acquisitions by condemnation or settlement land, water and sewer easements. 

Services

Corporate headquarters and expansion projects
Office, retail and mixed-use centers as well as regional shopping malls and big box development
Public infrastructure projects such as light rail, airport, power plants and highway construction
Hi-tech manufacturing and pharmaceutical facilities
Sustainable single- and multi-family residential developments
Planned unit developments and coastal golf course communities