For over 25 years, Robert has represented companies in high-stakes, complex business litigation, while also maintaining a broad sports law practice. He has extensive experience advising financial institutions in a wide range of disputes, including class actions. As the former chair of the firm’s Complex Commercial Litigation and Financial Services & Securities Enforcement Departments, and a former member of the firm’s Board of Partners, Robert brings deep subject-matter expertise in managing significant business disputes nationwide.
Currently, Robert co-chairs the firm’s Financial Services Litigation Practice Group and is widely recognized for handling “bet-the-company” matters, especially those involving reputational risk. A trusted advisor in crisis situations, he regularly counsels clients on sensitive issues, including media strategy and public communications. He has significant experience litigating defamation and product disparagement claims and has successfully defended numerous class actions, including in the data privacy space.
In addition to his commercial litigation work, Robert co-chairs the firm’s Sports Law Industry Team. With more than two decades of experience, he has represented athletes, teams, and corporate sponsors in matters ranging from high-profile endorsements and marketing agreements to complex contractual disputes. He currently serves as designated counsel to NASCAR’s inaugural Drivers Advisory Council.
- University of South Carolina School of LawJD1997
- University of VirginiaBA1993
Member, North Carolina Bar Association
- Speaker, "Ethics," Current Legal Issues and Trends in Mortgage Origination and Servicing, Mortgage Servicing In-House Counsel Forum, February 4, 2016
- Hon. Jean H. Toal, Supreme Court of South Carolina, 1997-1998
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
The rules of professional conduct in some jurisdictions require disclosure of selection methodology for certain public accolades and recognitions. Click here to view available selection methodologies.
Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, Woodward/White, Inc., 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Selected for inclusion in “Legal 500 United States,” Securities Litigation: Defense, 2021; General Commercial Disputes, 2022-2024
Named to the “Power List: Business Defense,” North Carolina Lawyers Weekly, 2023
Selected for inclusion in America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Litigation: General Commercial, North Carolina, Chambers USA, 2012, 2013
Named to “40 Under 40,” Charlotte Business Journal, 2009
- Author, "Avoiding Liability During Corporate Dissolution," Bloomberg Law, July 2020
- Author, Subsequent Mortgagee Excused from Face-to-Face Meeting, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, October 14, 2014
- Co-author, Appellate Practice in South Carolina, 2nd ed., South Carolina Bar Continuing Legal Education Division, 2002
- Co-author, Appellate Practice in South Carolina, 1st ed., South Carolina Bar Continuing Legal Education Division, 1999