News + Insights

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Negating Attorney-Client Privilege: When AI Conversations Are a Privilege Bomb

February 25, 2026

Written By Angela P. Doughty, CIPP/US, AIGP, FIP

A New York federal court just issued the first ruling to tackle head-on whether conversations with a public AI chatbot can be protected by…

Firm News

Ward and Smith Attorney Chris Edwards Featured in NCAJ Trial Briefs

February 25, 2026

Chris Edwards, co-chair of the firm’s Appellate Practice, was recently featured in the Q4 issue of Trial Briefs, the quarterly magazine published by the…

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Does One Defendant’s Bankruptcy Derail My Entire Lawsuit?

February 24, 2026

Written By Lance P. Martin

Sometimes a business deal doesn’t work out, and the parties decide to see each other in court. What happens if during the lawsuit one…

Firm News

Supporting Families Through the Family Stays 5K

February 23, 2026

On February 28, runners and walkers will gather at Tech Green for the 12th Annual Family Stays 5K, hosted by the Zeta Omicron Chapter of…

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Supreme Court Strikes Down President’s IEEPA Tariff Authority: What Businesses Need to Know

February 20, 2026

Written By Chris S. Edwards and Mark S. Wigley

Ed. Note: See additional material published Monday, February 23, 2026, at the conclusion of this article. In a landmark decision issued today in Learning…

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Community Association Reserve Funds in North Carolina: A Practical Overview

February 20, 2026

Written By Samuel B. Franck and Emily B. Sullivan

Properly managing reserve funds is one of the most important – and most misunderstood – responsibilities of a North Carolina homeowners’ association (“HOA”) or…

Firm News

Chris Edwards to Present NCAJ Webinar on Briefing and Arguing Civil Appeals

February 19, 2026

Ward and Smith appellate attorney Chris Edwards will present a webinar for the North Carolina Advocates for Justice (NCAJ) titled “Briefing and Arguing Civil Appeals: Notice to…