Robert King III

Bob King has more than 30 years of experience in a variety of litigation and environmental matters, and has been widely recognized as a leading litigator and trusted advisor by clients and peers. Representative examples of Bob’s work can be found in the "Experience" tab. Bob also serves as the Firm's General Counsel and previously served as the Chair of the Firm’s Associates Committee.

Bob has been honored by election as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. Bob has extensive trial experience in state and federal proceedings, administrative actions, and arbitrations. In addition, Bob has argued appeals before the North Carolina Supreme Court and Court of Appeals (many times), as well as the federal Fourth, Eleventh, and D.C. Circuits and the Texas Court of Appeals.

Extensive community involvement includes serving as an Elder at Fellowship Presbyterian Church and serving multiple terms as the Chair and President of the Presbyterian Counseling Center, in addition to service on other boards and direct volunteer work.

Since 1987, Bob has been married to Julie Davis (Duke (BA 1982); Wake Forest (JD 1986)). Julie and Bob are blessed with children who, coincidentally, are two of the best people who have ever existed: Rhyne (Duke BA 2014; University of Chicago PhD 2021), a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Toronto, and Grace (UNCA BS 2017; WCU BSN 2020), a Registered Nurse and doctoral student at Duke University.

My Practices

Notable cases and experiences (with some examples linked) include the following:

• Litigation regarding constitutionality of statute reviving time-barred claims.
• Litigation of myriad environmental issues, including permitting, enforcement actions, and private party litigation
• Both the prosecution and defense of wrongful death actions.
• Representation of the defendants in the leading toxic tort case under North Carolina law.  
• Enforcement of various restrictive covenants.
• Representation of both corporations and minority shareholders in a broad array of shareholders disputes.
• Significant awards from juries in eminent domain proceedings.
• Defense of employers in Title VII and other employment matters, including matters in which the opposing party was ordered to pay the client's attorney's fees.
• Representation of school systems in disputes over the funding of charter schools, participation in a regional school, and regarding the disposition of red light camera fines.
• Representation of both plaintiffs and defendants in various class actions.
• Prosecution of claims for wrongful termination of distribution agreements.
• Representations of local governmental bodies in myriad disputes.
• Both the prosecution and defense of claims relating to catastrophic and mass injuries.
• Both the prosecution and defense of actions involving intellectual property rights.
• Representation of two defendants in the Duke Lacrosse scandal and litigation.
• Defense of corporations in product liability and breach of warranty actions.
• Representation of landowners in zoning and other land use matters.
• Representation of companies and governmental bodies in Superfund and other hazardous waste sites.
• Defense of actions asserting claims of child molestation.
• Disputes over insurance coverage.
• Representation of both plaintiffs and defendants in premises liability claims.
• Representation of parties in franchising disputes.

Honors & Recognitions

Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers

Fellow, American Bar Foundation

Recognized as a North Carolina Lawyers Weekly "Leader in the Law" (2024)

Recognized as a "Litigation Star" by Benchmark Litigation for Appellate, Environmental (2020-2023), General Commercial (2019-2023)

Recognized by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business for Environmental Law (2007-2023)

Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in Commercial Litigation and Environmental Law (2007-2025), Environmental Law (Triad Lawyer of the Year 2023)

Recognized by his peers for inclusion in Business North Carolina’s "Legal Elite" in Environmental Law (2006-2008, 2013-2014, 2024) and Litigation (2012-2014, 2022)

Recognized in North Carolina Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) in Environmental Law (2008-2024)

Recognized in Super Lawyers Business Edition for Environmental Law (2015)

Education

Admissions

North Carolina

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th, D.C., and Federal Circuits

U.S. District Court for the Western, Middle, and Eastern Districts of North Carolina

Professional & Civic Activities

Past Member, North Carolina State Committee, American College of Trial Lawyers

Past Member, Trial Lawyer's Legal Ethics and Professionalism Committee, American College of Trial Lawyers

Past Director, Greensboro Bar Association

Elder, Fellowship Presbyterian Church

Past Member, Board of Directors, Greensboro Historical Museum

Former Trustee, Greensboro Natural Science Center

Former Member, Environmental Section Council, North Carolina Bar Association

Former Member, Appellate Rules Committee, North Carolina Bar Association

Former Chair and Board Member, Presbyterian Counseling Center