Overview
Lori Fuller joined Smith Anderson in 2019 after serving as General Counsel for the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (DIT). One of the leading technology lawyers for state government, Lori was the first lawyer ever assigned by the Attorney General’s Office to advise State Information Processing Services and Information Technology Services, the predecessor agencies of DIT. Lori has extensive knowledge and experience in information technology, IT procurement and complex contract negotiations.
In her role as General Counsel for DIT, Lori served as the chief legal advisor to the Secretary of DIT/State Chief Information Technology Officer, enabling successful decisions in legislative policy, IT procurement and administrative law issues. In addition to leading negotiations on complex multi-million dollar contracts for cloud computing, IT security, broadband and enterprise systems for statewide implementation, Lori also consulted with the Governor’s General Counsel on IT legal issues of statewide impact.
Prior to joining DIT, Lori was the Deputy General Counsel for Logistics for the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) where she was recognized for her economic development work as lead legal counsel for NCDOT’s Rail Division, NC State Ports Authority, NC Global TransPark Authority and Foreign Trade Zone 214, forming public-private partnerships, negotiating complex rail, seaport and airport construction and government contracts and foreign trade projects for the state. Lori has extensive experience in negotiating government incentives agreements for corporate relocation and expansion projects.
Outside of the office, Lori has served as a guest lecturer in business law courses at UNC, NC State and Meredith College.
Areas of Focus
Credentials
Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America®
- Government Relations Practice (2024-2025)
- Best Lawyers® 2024 Government Relations Practice "Lawyer of the Year" in Raleigh
- Recognition, Foreign Trade Zone #214
- Former member, International Law Journal, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law
Education
- University of North Carolina, J.D., 1985
- University of North Carolina, B.A., 1982
Bar & Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S.District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina
Affiliations
- Wake County Bar Association
- Past Member, Board of Directors
- Past Member, Athletic Committee
- North Carolina Bar Association
- Past Member, Council on Government & Public Sector, Council on Law Practice Management and Council on Technology Law
- Graduate, NC Center for Women in Public Service (merged with NC Institute of Political Leadership)
- Past Member, SAFEchild Board of Directors
- Past Member, Carolina Parents Council of the Carolina Parents Association, UNC-Chapel Hill
- Junior League of Raleigh
- Past Vice President for Training & Communications, Board of Directors
- Editor, theLINK magazine
- Sustainer (2006-present)
- Former Leader, Girl Scout Troop 1449
- National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Colonel Polk Chapter
- The National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century, Sir Walter Raleigh Chapter
Experience
Prior to joining Smith Anderson, Lori:
- Negotiated first IT Public-Private Partnership for the State of North Carolina developing a $20 million “source to pay” system.
- Represented the State of North Carolina in the $220 million development of an economic development site for an advanced manufacturing facility in a Tier 1 county.
- Negotiated government incentives for corporate relocation and expansion projects.
