Stefan A. Maletic
Real Estate Attorney
T 828.348.6031
F 828.348.6077
E samaletic@wardandsmith.com
O Asheville, NC
Practice Areas:
Real Estate, Real Estate Development
Stefan is a real estate attorney focused on commercial real estate transactions representing purchasers, sellers, landlords, tenants, and developers. Stefan’s work spans contract drafting and negotiation, including purchase agreements, commercial leases, easements, and restrictive covenants. He also handles title work, from search and review through certification.
Before joining Ward and Smith, Stefan was in private practice representing municipalities, developers, and institutional lenders in affordable housing development and commercial real estate transactions, gaining broad experience with ground leases, loan documents, and purchase agreements.
Stefan earned his J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law, where he completed a judicial internship with the Honorable Chris Dillon of the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
- J.D., University of North Carolina School of Law, 2021
- B.A., cum laude, Furman University, 2016
North Carolina Bar Association
- North Carolina, 2021
The best thing about Ward and Smith is…
How friendly, supportive, and collaborative the Firm’s environment is. It’s an honor to be part of a team that values relationships and genuinely looks out for each other.
I became a lawyer because:
I enjoy problem-solving and helping people navigate challenges. In a field that can be pretty adversarial, I find it incredibly satisfying when a transaction closes, and both sides get to pour drinks and celebrate a deal benefiting all parties.
One surprising thing people don’t know about me is…
I’ve lived with a self-admitted burglar for four months. I found out when I accidentally left the door unlocked one day, and he kindly (and loudly) informed me “that’s how people get robbed”, which he knew, “because he used to rob people”. Luckily, he was reformed, and I made it out with all of my possessions.
Where I’d most like to live and why:
The Pacific Northwest, because I like the outdoors and laid-back culture centered on nature and the arts. I grew up hiking in Western North Carolina, so it would be great to explore the redwood forests there. Additionally, I’m a huge fan of certain cultural touchstones of the PNW, such as Nirvana and Twin Peaks.
My favorite character(s) in fiction and why:
My favorite characters in fiction are Rust Cohle from True Detective and Tom Wambsgans from Succession. Rust Cohle for his complexity and the way he played off of his partner, Marty, and Tom Wambsgans for his hilarious sense of humor and being a dark horse in the show.
