Robin Tatum Partner Smith Anderson, Raleigh

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Robin Tatum is a partner at Smith Anderson in Raleigh, with more than 35 years of practice. She is best known for her deep knowledge in zoning and land use law and for successfully resolving complex land use cases. She is also known for mentoring the next generation of zoning and land use attorneys. “Helping younger lawyers build confidence, develop their skills and find their place in this field has been one of the most meaningful parts of my career,” Tatum said. Tatum started handling litigation and expanded her practice to the full spectrum of zoning and land-use work. Her most memorable cases include serving as lead counsel in the City of Asheville’s case to save its water system, resolved in the city’s favor by the North Carolina Supreme Court. For more than five years, Tatum served on the four-member drafting committee that drafted Chapter 160D of the North Carolina General Statutes. When she began practicing in the early 1990s, very few women worked in zoning and land use law.