Smith Anderson Hires 12 Attorneys in 2019

(Raleigh, N.C.) Smith Anderson welcomed 12 new attorneys in 2019, 11 of whom are associates in the early stages of their careers, including seven who previously practiced with global or regional law firms. The new attorneys – Jenny Bobbitt, Ashton G. Carpenter, Victor DeMarco, Maria “Alice” Alvares Dias, Nicolas Eason, Davis J. Fussell, Grace A. Gregson, Robert L. Hash, David R. Ortiz, Will M. Pugh, Edward F. Roche and Miles Wobbleton – all focus their practice on various areas of law across a wide variety of industries.

“At Smith Anderson, we are not only looking for the most talented lawyers and those who align well with our high-growth practice areas, but we are also mindful of who will fit with our firm culture,” said Director of Professional Development Blake Fricks, J.D. “While it is essential that we hire lawyers with the ability to deliver first-class client service, we look for lawyers who share in our commitment to serve our community, profession and colleagues.”

Jenny Bobbitt focuses her practice on employment law, including all of the employment aspects of corporate transactions. Previously, she was a corporate attorney with a regional law firm in Louisville after practicing employment law with a national law firm.

Relocating from Atlanta to Raleigh, Ashton Carpenter previously practiced with a global law firm where her area of focus was commercial litigation. At Smith Anderson, Ashton counsels clients on business litigation matters and complex contract disputes.  

With more than 13 years of finance experience, Victor DeMarco joined the firm’s Venture Debt and Technology Finance practice. While attending law school, he was a senior vice president and risk manager for Square 1 Bank (a Division of Pacific Western Bank) where he obtained his extensive venture debt and banking experience.   

Prior to joining Smith Anderson, Alice Dias was a senior attorney at a regional law firm in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where she advised multinational companies on a variety of corporate transactions. Her primary areas of focus at the firm are corporate law, banking and finance matters, and complex commercial transactions, including advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, collaborations, loans and debt, and international restructurings. Alice is also fluent in Portuguese and English and is conversant in Spanish and French.

Nic Eason, Davis Fussell and Grace Gregson joined the firm as first year associates and are University of North Carolina School of Law graduates. Nic and Davis assist with a variety of corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions and commercial contract agreements while Grace focuses her practice in the areas of construction and commercial litigation. Nic also focuses on intellectual property matters, including prosecution of trademark registration applications before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Additionally, Grace served as a law clerk for Special Superior Court Judge Gregory P. McGuire for the North Carolina Business Court prior to joining Smith Anderson. During Davis’s studies at the UNC School of Law, he was a recipient of the Chancellors Scholars Award and Valedictorian of his class.

Also a University of North Carolina School of Law graduate, Robert Hash previously practiced with a regional law firm where he assisted with corporate transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions. At Smith Anderson, Rob assists with a variety of corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, data use and privacy, commercial contracts, technology and governance.

After serving as a law clerk for United States District Judge James C. Dever III of the Eastern District of North Carolina, David Ortiz joined Smith Anderson’s Litigation practice group where he assists clients with commercial litigation matters and complex contract disputes. David is a University of Virginia School of Law graduate.

From the Palo Alto, California office of an international law firm, Will Pugh joined Smith Anderson in Raleigh and is advising start-up and emerging company clients on various areas of law, including venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory compliance and corporate governance matters. Will is a Duke University School of Law graduate.

Also from a global law firm, Ed Roche relocated to Raleigh from Washington, D.C. and is a member of Smith Anderson’s Litigation practice group. His previous litigation experience includes working with clients in a wide range of industry sectors including technology, health care, insurance, financial services, energy, media government, universities and non-profits.

Miles Wobbleton joined Smith Anderson having banking and finance experience he gained from a previous global law firm he practiced with where he represented lenders, issuers, and others in the U.S. and cross-border structured finance and fund finance transactions. Miles is a member of Smith Anderson’s Corporate, Private Equity, and Finance practices in which he represents startups, established companies, private equity firms, and venture banks and other financial institutions.