Marley H. Peterson

Government Relations Attorney

Marley is a government relations attorney adept at assisting clients with a broad spectrum of governmental matters spanning all levels of government, including federal, state, and local. She is a registered state lobbyist for several local government and nonprofit clients and enjoys advocating on their behalf at the North Carolina General Assembly. Her experience extends from navigating procurement processes and North Carolina business incentives to guiding private entities seeking government partnerships. Marley ensures clients craft compelling responses to government RFPs and effectively drafts and negotiates procurement contracts for both private and public entities.

Furthermore, Marley advises government bodies on policy disputes, actively advocating for change through brief writing and promoting amendments to North Carolina statutes and the U.S. Code.

Before attending law school, Marley gained valuable experience working for a North Carolina Senator at his NC General Assembly office and for a U.S. Congressman on Capitol Hill. Prior to joining Ward and Smith full-time, she worked as a summer associate and government relations intern for the firm. She also served as a law clerk for the North Carolina State Bar.