Technology

Ward and Smith, P.A. has guided dozens of North Carolina technology companies from formation through exit. The clients include software developers, SaaS companies, life sciences firms, hardware manufacturers, agricultural technology firms, and venture-backed growth companies at every stage of the lifecycle.

Ward and Smith has offices in Asheville, Greenville, Morehead City, New Bern, Raleigh, Wilmington, and Columbia, SC, with the Raleigh office at the center of the Research Triangle.

What that continuity produces: when your Series A closes or a trade secret dispute surfaces, your attorneys already know your cap table, your IP portfolio, and your business. You are not rebuilding institutional knowledge with a new firm at every stage.

Technology Law Services: What We Handle

Ward and Smith’s Technology Practice Group provides day-to-day counsel and transactional support across the full spectrum of technology law:

• Software licensing agreements, software development agreements, SaaS contracts, and subscription terms
• Cloud services, data processing agreements, artificial intelligence provider or vendor agreements, and technology vendor contracts
• Startup and company formation, including Delaware C corporation and North Carolina LLC structuring
• Founder agreements, co-founder disputes, and equity splits
• Angel and venture capital financing, including term sheet negotiation, SAFE and convertible note documentation, and Series A through Series C closings
• Equity compensation plans, option grants, and IRC Section 409A compliance
• Intellectual property protection: patent prosecution, trade secret programs under C.G.S. Chapter 66, trademark registration, and copyright
• IP due diligence for acquisitions and licensing transactions
• IP licensing and development agreements
• Mergers and acquisitions of technology companies
• Employment agreements, non-compete and non-solicitation provisions, and IP assignment agreements
• Regulatory compliance for technology companies in healthcare, financial services, education, and artificial intelligence sectors
• NC Business Court litigation for technology-related disputes, including trade secrets, IP ownership, and non-compete enforcement

Technology Sectors We Serve

• Software, SaaS, and cloud platforms
• Hardware, semiconductors, and electronic devices
• Medical devices, digital health, and biotechnology
• Financial technology (Fintech) companies
• Agtech, cleantech, and energy technology
• Defense and government contracting technology firms
• University and research institution spin-offs
• Telecommunications and mobile application developers

What Ward and Smith Brings to Technology Clients

Attorneys Who Know the Technology

Ward and Smith’s technology attorneys bring complementary technical backgrounds in biology, chemistry, biophysics, logistics, data privacy, and business management to client work.  That means that when a client is explaining how their SaaS product handles customer data, the technology they are trying to license, or why their patent claim is drawn the way it is, the attorney on the other side of the table does not need a primer.

Connected to the NC Technology Ecosystem

Ward and Smith attorneys maintain active memberships in NC Tech, the International Trademark Association, the International Association of Privacy Professionals, and the North Carolina Bar Association. Technology attorneys at the firm serve on government advisory boards that shape state policies affecting North Carolina’s technology industries. That policy engagement means clients hear about regulatory changes before they take effect, not after. And on the relationship side of the ecosystem, Brad Hill is a North Carolina business attorney who brings first-hand experience with the pressures, decisions, and pivots that define business life, having been on both sides of the relationship as a former startup executive.

IP Credentials That Go Beyond General Practice

Ward and Smith’s IP practice includes Ryan Simmons, a registered patent attorney recognized as a Trade Mark Star and Patent Star by IP Stars from Managing IP (2022 to 2025). Angela Doughty holds the NC Board Certified Specialist designation in Trademark Law and the AI Governance Professional (AIGP) certification, which is directly relevant for technology companies navigating AI-related IP questions. Mayukh Sircar is a Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States, which is relevant for the compliance, risks, and data security aspects of technology transactions. Erica Rogers is also NC Board Certified Specialists in Trademark Law. For technology companies where IP is the primary asset, that depth matters.

A Full-Firm Model That Eliminates Handoff Risk

Technology companies need more than transactional counsel. Employment disputes, real estate decisions, tax structuring questions, and complex commercial litigation all arise as companies grow. Ward and Smith’s full-service model means the attorneys who handle your startup formation can draw directly on colleagues in Labor and Employment, Tax, Real Estate, Litigation, and Government Relations. 

For technology companies that want a legal team that grows with them from formation through exit, without the cost and friction of finding new counsel at every stage, Ward and Smith is the right choice.