Ward and Smith Welcomes Six New Attorneys

Ward and Smith, P.A. continues to grow with the addition of six new attorneys.

The firm is pleased to welcome business attorneys William Atkinson and Stephanie Moore, and litigators Lauren Collins, Hannah Dunaway, Sarah Shapiro, and Pierce Shipway. This new class of talent joins the firm’s Business, Labor and Employment, Family Law, and Litigation practice groups, with attorneys based across the firm’s offices.

“These six attorneys bring exceptional talent and a genuine eagerness to serve and advocate for our clients’ needs,” said Devon Williams, Co-Managing Director of Ward and Smith. “Several of them got to know our firm as summer associates, and we are proud that experience led them back to build their careers with us. Their arrival reflects the strength and continued growth of our team across North Carolina.

Meet the New Attorneys

William Atkinson joins the firm’s Business practice group in the New Bern office. He works with clients on a range of transactional and advisory matters, helping individuals and companies understand their options, prepare and review legal documents, and move transactions forward efficiently. Before joining Ward and Smith full-time, William gained experience with the firm as a summer associate. He earned his J.D. from Campbell University School of Law. William is currently pending swearing-in.

• wkatkinson@wardandsmith.com
• 252.672.5448

Lauren Collins joins the firm’s Family Law practice group in the New Bern office. Her work spans custody and child support disputes, separation and divorce, equitable distribution, and other domestic matters that call for both careful legal strategy and a steady, practical approach. Lauren earned her J.D. from Campbell University School of Law. Lauren plans to be sworn in to the North Carolina Bar on October 2.

• lbcollins@wardandsmith.com
• 252.672.5582

Hannah Dunaway joins the firm’s Litigation practice group in the Asheville office. Hannah assists clients with all stages of the litigation process, with a focus on federal litigation and complex business litigation. Before joining Ward and Smith, Hannah served as a law clerk to the Honorable Brett H. Ludwig of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and as a judicial extern to the Honorable Judge Conrad of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. She earned her J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law and is licensed in North Carolina.

• hmdunaway@wardandsmith.com
• 828.348.6009

Stephanie Moore joins the firm’s Business practice group in the Greenville office. She assists clients with entity formation, corporate governance, and the drafting and review of commercial contracts, supporting due diligence and regulatory compliance research as businesses navigate transactions and growth. Stephanie served as a summer associate with Ward and Smith before joining the firm full-time. She earned her J.D. from Campbell University School of Law and her MBA from East Carolina University College of Business. Stephanie plans to be sworn in to the North Carolina Bar on October 5.

• sbmoore@wardandsmith.com
• 252.215.4003

Sarah Shapiro joins the firm’s Labor and Employment practice group in the Wilmington office. She helps employers research and analyze workplace laws, prepare and review employment-related documents, and respond to workplace concerns. Sarah served as a summer associate with Ward and Smith before joining full-time and previously worked as a paralegal supporting litigation matters from discovery through trial preparation. She earned her J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law. Sarah is currently pending swearing-in.

• sgshapiro@wardandsmith.com
• 910.794.4876

Pierce Shipway joins the firm’s Litigation practice group in the Raleigh office. He represents clients in civil disputes across state and federal courts, conducting legal research and drafting pleadings, motions, and briefs to support case strategy at every stage of litigation. Before joining Ward and Smith, Pierce served as a summer associate with the firm and gained legal experience as a Youth Advocacy Intern in the Chambers of the Honorable John M. Tyson with the North Carolina Court of Appeals. He earned his J.D. from Campbell University School of Law. Pierce is currently pending swearing-in.

• pashipway@wardandsmith.com
• 919.277.918

About Ward and Smith, P.A.

Ward and Smith is a full-service law firm with seven offices across North Carolina and South Carolina, located in Asheville, Beaufort, Greenville, New Bern, Raleigh, and Wilmington, North Carolina, and Columbia, South Carolina. The firm has more than 100 attorneys practicing in more than 35 practice areas, from agribusiness to zoning.  For more information, visit  https://www.wardandsmith.com/.