Pierce A. Shipway
Litigation Attorney - Pending Swearing-in
T 919.277.9187
F 919.277.9177
E pashipway@wardandsmith.com
O Raleigh, NC
Practice Areas:
Litigation
Pierce Shipway focuses his practice on litigation, representing clients in civil disputes across state and federal courts. He conducts legal research and drafts pleadings, motions, and briefs to support case strategy at every stage of litigation. Pierce assists with discovery, including reviewing documents and preparing responses to interrogatories and requests for production. He works closely with attorneys to prepare witnesses, organize trial exhibits, and develop arguments for hearings and trials.
Before joining Ward and Smith full-time, Pierce served as a summer associate with the firm. He also gained legal experience through his work as a Youth Advocacy Intern for the Honorable John M. Tyson with the North Carolina Court of Appeals, where he drafted memoranda and opinions addressing constitutional, evidentiary, procedural, and statutory interpretation issues.
Furthermore, Pierce served as a student assistant for the ABA Antitrust Law Journal, performing legal research and editing articles for accuracy, authority, and citation compliance.
- J.D., Campbell University School of Law, 2026
- B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2019
- North Carolina, 2026 – Pending Swearing-in
- My motto is “Fortitudine Vincimus” which translates to “By endurance we conquer.” This was the family motto of Sir Ernest Shackleton, the arctic explorer whose ill-fated attempt to cross Antarctica in 1914 is the subject of my favorite book, Endurance. I’ve been fascinated with arctic expeditions for some time now, and I believe found that there is very little that cannot be overcome by steadfast belief in one’s own purpose.
- The best thing about Ward and Smith is the culture. Since I first interviewed to be a summer associate, it has been apparent that everyone here respects and trusts each other. The firm fosters a culture of egalitarianism and cooperation such that one immediately feels welcomed.
- I became a lawyer because I want to have a career in which the stakes are real. I feel that the best way I can truly immerse myself in a profession is if the actions I take have tangible, real world consequences. I also appreciate that the legal profession places a premium on oral and written expression. Ultimately, I chose to pursue a career in the legal profession so that I can solve new, challenging problems.
- One surprising thing people don’t know about me is I’ve recently taken up gardening! I consider it to be unmatched in its ability to produce consistent joy. I’ve found that there’s something truly humbling, gratifying, and invigorating about an activity in which the results take months, if not years, to come to fruition.
- Where I’d most like to live and why: This is a tough question. I could realistically imagine myself living in any number of places around the world, but I can narrow it down to two. The first would be Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan province in China. I’ve spent a fair bit of time there and I am completely taken with the spicy food, ancient culture, and distinct architecture. If not there, I’d choose Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. The stark landscape of sea meeting stone produces a persistent mist that combines to produce a deep sense of contentment and primeval mysticism. It doesn’t hurt that it has a storied history of explorers beginning their attempts to find the Northwest Passage!
