Edward James "Trip" Coyne III

Edward James "Trip" Coyne III

recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2016
Awarded Practice Areas
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) Litigation - Construction
Awarded Practice Areas
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) Litigation - Construction
Works at
Ward and Smith PA

57 Best Lawyers awards

Ward and Smith PA logo

Biography

Trip maintains a diverse litigation and general business practice. He has significant experience in corporate, construction, commercial, class action, maritime, and real property litigation, and regularly appears as lead or local counsel throughout the state and federal courts of North and South Carolina, as well as in other jurisdictions. He also provides general business counsel to domestic and international clients. Prior to joining the firm, Trip practiced in the Wilmington office of a large, regional law firm and served two terms as law clerk to the Honorable John R. Jolly, Jr., of the North Carolina Business Court. He has been rated by his peers as being "preeminent" in his fields of law.
Works at
Ward and Smith PA

57 Best Lawyers awards

Ward and Smith PA logo

Locations

Education

  • Wake Forest University, J.D., graduated 2005
  • Appalachian State University, BS, graduated 2002

Bar Admissions

  • North Carolina, 2005
  • Florida, 2008
  • Georgia, 2007
  • South Carolina, 2008

Court Admissions

  • United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
  • United States District Court for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina
  • All state and federal courts in North Carolina
  • All state and federal courts in South Carolina
  • All state courts in Florida
  • All state courts in Georgia

Affiliations

  • * Please see the following websites for an explanation of the membership standards for the following recognitions: - www.bestlawyers.com; businessnc.com/special-sections/legal-elite/; and www.superlawyers.com/north-carolina.
  • Cameron Art Museum - Past Chairman, Board of Trustees
  • City of Wilmington Municipal Services District Task Force - Member
  • GLOW Leadership Academy Foundation - Board Member
  • Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce - Leadership Wilmington Alumnus,Class of 2012
  • North Carolina Bar Association - Member
  • North Carolina Business Court Rules Advisory Committee - Member
  • Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute - member, Port Captain, past presenter
  • Wake Forest Journal of Business and Intellectual Property Law - Board of Advisors
  • Wilmington Downtown, Inc - Past officer and Director

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2023 - Litigation - Construction
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Litigation - Construction, Wilmington, NC (2023)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
  • Litigation - Construction
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law
Special Focus:
  • COVID-19
Awards:
  • "40 and Under Hot List," Benchmark Litigation, 2018
  • The Best Lawyers in America, 2016-2019
  • "Rising Star," North Carolina Super Lawyers, 2013-2019

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