Ward and Smith PA

56 Best Lawyers awards

Ward and Smith PA logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Land Use and Zoning Law

Biography

Eric's practice experience encompasses various areas of civil litigation, including real property, business, and commercial litigation; zoning and land use issues; disputes involving community associations; and insurance coverage disputes. He is a member of the Zoning, Planning and Land Use Section Council of the North Carolina State Bar Association and leads the firm's Eminent Domain practice.

Eric has handled numerous cases in State and Federal court from the investigation stage through appeals. He has represented clients in complex cases involving breach of contract, real estate development, scope and location of easements/boundaries, covenant interpretation and enforcement, interpretation of commercial general, property casualty and directors and officers liability policies, and many other areas. He works diligently with clients in an effort to achieve the most favorable results possible, whether that involves pre-litigation negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or taking a case through trials and subsequent appeals.

Before joining the firm, Eric served our country as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. During his ten years on active duty, he served as a Communications Officer, Defense Counsel, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, and Prosecutor. Eric currently serves his local community as a Board Member and Vice Chairman for the CarolinaEast Foundation.

Ward and Smith PA

56 Best Lawyers awards

Ward and Smith PA logo

Overview

  • Creighton University, J.D., graduated 1993
  • Iowa State University, B.S., graduated 1986

  • North Carolina, 1999
  • Virginia, 1993

  • North Carolina Bar Association - Member - Sections: Litigation; Real Property; Zoning, Planning and Land Use (council member)
  • North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys - Member
  • Home Builders Association of Craven and Pamlico Counties - Member
  • Eastern North Carolina Inn of Court - Member
  • Defense Research Institute - Member
  • Community Associations Institute - Member
  • CarolinaEast Foundation - Board Member and Vice Chairman
  • American Bar Association - Member-Section: Litigation

  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
  • United States District Court for the Eastern and Middle Districts of North Carolina
  • All state courts in Virginia
  • All state courts in North Carolina
  • Virginia, 1993
  • North Carolina, 1999
  • North Carolina, 1999
  • Virginia, 1993
  • North Carolina Bar Association - Member - Sections: Litigation; Real Property; Zoning, Planning and Land Use (council member)
  • North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys - Member
  • Home Builders Association of Craven and Pamlico Counties - Member
  • Eastern North Carolina Inn of Court - Member
  • Defense Research Institute - Member
  • Community Associations Institute - Member
  • CarolinaEast Foundation - Board Member and Vice Chairman
  • American Bar Association - Member-Section: Litigation
  • Creighton University, J.D., graduated 1993
  • Iowa State University, B.S., graduated 1986
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
  • United States District Court for the Eastern and Middle Districts of North Carolina
  • All state courts in Virginia
  • All state courts in North Carolina
  • Virginia, 1993
  • North Carolina, 1999

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Land Use and Zoning Law
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Commercial Litigation
Special Focus:
  • COVID-19
Awards:
  • "Go-To Thought Leader," National Law Review, 2018
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers®, 2020 -2024

Case History

Transactions
  • Representation of utility company in a dispute with landowner and municipality over utility easement rights
Representation of utility company in a dispute with landowner and municipality over utility easement rights, setbacks and approval of a site plan for a multi-family residential construction project
  • Representation of family members in $350,000 dispute
Representation of family members in $350,000 dispute with other family members over the division of jointly owned property
  • Representation of landowner in a $4 million lawsuit
Representation of landowner in a $4 million lawsuit filed by a government agency to condemn the development rights on the landowner's property
  • Representation of a municipality in enforcement actions
Representation of a municipality in enforcement actions against landowners over nuisance abatement
  • Representation of a homeowners' association in a lawsuit against a developer
Representation of a homeowners' association in a lawsuit against a developer regarding the transfer of common areas to the homeowners' association and the rights of the developer to encumber the common areas with a lease agreement and easements
  • Representation of a homeowner in a lawsuit against a neighboring landowner
Representation of a homeowner in a lawsuit against a neighboring landowner over an alleged easement claimed by the neighboring landowner
  • Representation of purchasers in $250,000 dispute
Representation of purchasers in $250,000 dispute with the seller over undisclosed defects in a residence
  • Representation of a company in a $1 million lawsuit
Representation of a company in a $1 million lawsuit against an insurance company for wrongful denial of a claim involving employee fraud
  • Representation of a company in a $1.75 million lawsuit
Representation of a company in a $1.75 million lawsuit against a former employee for employee fraud
  • Representation of a municipality in a lawsuit against another municipality
Representation of a municipality in a lawsuit against another municipality over the terms of an interlocal agreement dealing with establishment of sewer rates

Your browser is not fully compatible with our automatic printer friendly formatting.

Please use the print button to print this profile page.

Spinning circle Big letter B