North Carolina has grown into one of the most active real estate markets in the Southeast. From large-scale mixed-use developments in Charlotte to commercial and industrial growth across the Triangle, the legal work involved in property transactions here has become increasingly complex. Whether you need help with a commercial acquisition, a zoning dispute, a construction loan, or a multifamily development, finding the right real estate lawyer can protect your investment and keep your deal moving forward.
North Carolina is also an attorney closing state. Under North Carolina General Statute Section 84-2.1, real estate closings must be supervised by a licensed attorney, which means attorney involvement is not optional. It is a legal requirement for every property transaction in the state.
Here are seven real estate lawyers in North Carolina who stand out for their experience, track records, and consistent recognition from the country’s most respected independent legal ranking bodies.
1. John H. Carmichael: Land Use, Zoning and Real Estate Litigation Partner at Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson P.A., Charlotte, NC
John Carmichael focuses on land use and zoning, commercial real estate, development entitlements, and real estate litigation. Chambers USA has ranked him in Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use for North Carolina every year from 2014 to 2026, and Best Lawyers in America has recognized him since 2007 across Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation: Real Estate, and Litigation: Land Use and Zoning. Best Lawyers has named him Charlotte Lawyer of the Year in these categories nine separate times. He is a LEED Accredited Professional and served as Chair of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Zoning, Planning and Land Use Section from 2015 to 2016.
2. Brent A. Torstrick: Commercial Real Estate Development Partner at Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson P.A., Charlotte, NC
Brent Torstrick’s practice covers all aspects of commercial real estate development, with deep expertise in shopping center development, leasing, real estate finance, mixed-use projects, and condominium structuring. Chambers USA has recognized him in Real Estate for North Carolina in both 2024 and 2025, and Best Lawyers in America has included him in Real Estate Law for multiple consecutive years. He has maintained active relationships with major developers, including Collett & Associates, Cambridge Properties, and Crescent Communities for over 25 years, and has represented one development group in 25 or more shopping center projects across the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida.
3. Christopher W. Loeb: Commercial Real Estate and Land Use Partner at Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson P.A., Charlotte, NC
Chris Loeb has been recognized by Chambers USA in Real Estate for North Carolina consecutively since 2014. He graduated with highest honors from Duke University School of Law, earned Order of the Coif distinction, and clerked for Judge J. Dickson Phillips Jr. on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. His practice spans commercial real estate transactions, land use and environmental law, office and industrial leasing, and real estate finance. He represents Atrium Health in the development of The Pearl, a mixed-use innovation district in Charlotte that includes a new medical school campus, and represents Faison Associates across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
4. Michael R. Thornton: Real Estate Development Practice Co-Leader at Smith Anderson Blount Dorsett Mitchell & Jernigan LLP, Raleigh, NC
Mike Thornton co-leads Smith Anderson’s Real Estate Development practice group and has been ranked by Chambers USA in Real Estate for North Carolina for 10 consecutive years. He graduated cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center and earned his undergraduate degree with honors from the University of North Carolina. He is a LEED Accredited Professional, former President of the Wake County Real Property Lawyers Association, and has served on the Board of Editors of Shopping Center Law and Strategy. His practice focuses on retail, office, multifamily, and hotel development, including finance, leasing, and joint ventures for national and regional developers.
5. Stephanie E. Greer Fulcher: Real Estate Finance and Development Partner at Troutman Pepper Locke LLP, Charlotte and Raleigh, NC
Stephanie Greer Fulcher has been ranked by Chambers USA in Real Estate for North Carolina for nine consecutive years, from 2017 through 2025. Best Lawyers in America has recognized her in Real Estate Law every year from 2021 to 2026, and she is also listed in Legal 500 USA for Real Estate in 2025, one of only a handful of North Carolina real estate lawyers to appear in all three major international directories simultaneously. She co-authored the USA Practice Guide on Real Estate for Chambers and Partners. Her practice centers on real estate finance, construction lending, acquisitions, dispositions, and multifamily development across multiple states.
6. Michael F. King: Real Estate and Land Use Partner at K&L Gates LLP, Raleigh, NC
Mike King has been recognized by Chambers USA in Real Estate for North Carolina for eight consecutive years, from 2018 through 2025. Best Lawyers in America has included him in Real Estate Law since 2009 and in Land Use and Zoning Law since 2024, and named him Raleigh Lawyer of the Year in Real Estate Law in 2022. Business North Carolina Legal Elite has recognized him in Real Estate Law in 2016, 2017, 2023, and 2024. His practice covers the acquisition and development of retail and office projects, residential subdivisions, planned communities, and land use matters before local governmental boards.
7. Davis F. Roach: Real Estate Development Attorney at Smith Anderson Blount Dorsett Mitchell & Jernigan LLP, Raleigh, NC
Davis Roach was newly recognized in the 2025 edition of Chambers USA for Real Estate in North Carolina, reflecting consistent high-level work within one of the state’s most decorated real estate practices. Smith Anderson has held Chambers USA Band 1 status in North Carolina real estate for 22 consecutive years, and 44 of its attorneys were individually ranked in the 2025 Chambers guide. Her practice focuses on real estate development, acquisitions, and land use matters. Chambers clients describe the Smith Anderson real estate team as providing ‘Big Law expertise and service levels at extremely competitive rates,’ with ‘great knowledge of the space.’
How to Choose the Right Real Estate Lawyer in North Carolina
The seven lawyers on this list cover the full range of real estate legal needs across North Carolina. For land use, zoning approvals, and development entitlements in the Charlotte market, Carmichael is the most decorated attorney in the state with documented results before planning commissions, boards of adjustment, and appellate courts. Torstrick and Loeb, also at Robinson Bradshaw, bring deep transactional and development expertise for clients working with retail, industrial, mixed-use, and healthcare properties.
Thornton at Smith Anderson is the strongest choice for developers in the Triangle market needing a co-leader of a nationally ranked real estate practice. Greer Fulcher at Troutman Pepper Locke is the right fit for clients focused on real estate finance, construction lending, and multifamily development, with the added strength of Legal 500 USA recognition that sets her apart. King at K&L Gates is a well-rounded choice for Raleigh clients across acquisitions, retail development, and land use work. Roach at Smith Anderson rounds out the list with fresh Chambers recognition and the backing of one of North Carolina’s longest-standing Band 1 real estate practices.
Because North Carolina requires a licensed attorney to supervise every real estate closing, the quality of your legal counsel directly affects the outcome of your transaction. The lawyers on this list have earned their reputations through documented results, sustained peer recognition, and client relationships that often span decades.
If your real estate matter is significant, these are the names worth knowing before you move forward.
