Robert E. Zaytoun Principal Zaytoun Law Firm, Wilmington |

North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Staff//July 9, 2025//

North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Staff//July 9, 2025//

Listen to this article

Robert E. Zaytoun began his career in 1976 in Tampa, where he practiced law with a personal injury plaintiffs’ firm before returning to his home state of North Carolina to accept a position as assistant district attorney for Wake County.

In 1982, he shifted to private practice, initially focusing on criminal defense. His practice evolved, and has grown to include catastrophic personal injury, business litigation, health care fraud and abuse, product liability, managed care litigation and whistleblower matters.

“I like fighting for the underdog,” he says. “As a plaintiff’s attorney, you usually are confronting corporations backed by huge insurance companies with lawyers from large firms, well-funded and usually formidable adversaries.”

Zaytoun’s credits his father, who served as a U.S. Marine in World War II, with influencing his life and career.

“My father told me, ‘Keep your head down, prepare for your adversaries’ best, and never give up.’ He was my all-time hero and role model,” Zaytoun says.