Chris S. Edwards

Chris dedicates his practice to appeals in state and federal courts. Both clients and attorneys outside the Firm frequently rely on Chris to protect their interests when a case is appealed. 

Successful appeals don’t just happen—they require careful planning. Chris adds value to cases by providing appellate counseling to trial attorneys, helping to preserve and frame potential issues for appeal. By collaborating with trial counsel, Chris helps enhance the chances of a favorable outcome. 

Appellate lawyers are generalists. Chris has handled both civil and criminal appeals in a host of different substantive areas.  Whether it’s constitutional, patent, or utilities law, Chris has a rich history of managing complex appellate cases. His experience is not just broad, but also deep, especially in navigating the appellate procedure. From staying enforcement of judgments to litigating jurisdictional challenges, Chris’s grasp on the procedural elements is as strong as his strategic insight. 

Chris is familiar with North Carolina’s state and federal courts. Before joining Ward and Smith, Chris was a law clerk to U.S. Circuit Judge G. Steven Agee of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Since joining the firm, Chris has been certified as an appellate specialist, demonstrating his dedication to his craft. He is also an active member of the appellate bar, administering the N.C. Bar Association’s Appellate Pro Bono Program and serving on its Appellate Rules Committee.

Education

• J.D., magna cum laude, Wake Forest University School of Law, 2014; Order of the Coif; Wake Forest Law Review
• B.A., magna cum laude, Wake Forest University, 2011

Representative Experience

• Briefed and argued Warfield v. ICON Advisers, Inc., 26 F.4th 666 (4th Cir. 2022), a case reversing the district court’s judgment and reinstating an arbitration award finding liability and awarding damages under a “wrongful termination without just cause” theory.
• Briefed and argued Keith v. Health-Pro Home Care Services, 381 N.C. 442, 873 S.E.2d 567 (2022), a case reversing the Court of Appeals and reinstating a jury verdict, which clarified the scope of the negligent hiring tort in North Carolina.
• Briefed Southern Power Co. v. Cleveland County, 24 F.th 258 (4th Cir. 2022), a case affirming the district court’s judgment and interpreting a novel provision of North Carolina’s Economic Development Act.
• Briefed and argued Bill Clark Homes of Raleigh, LLC v. Town of Fuquay-Varina, 281 N.C. App. 1, 869 S.E.2d 1 (2021), a case reversing the trial court’s order dismissing a complaint seeking a refund of unlawful fees.
• Briefed and argued Munoz v. Munoz, 278 N.C. App. 647, 864 S.E.2d 364 (2021), a case interpreting a novel provision of North Carolina child custody law.

Honors and Distinctions*

• "40 Under 40," Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, 2024
• The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch, Best Lawyers^®, 2020-2025
• "Legal Elite," Business North Carolina, Appellate, 2023-2024
• "40 & Under List," Benchmark Litigation, 2022, 2023
• "Legal Elite," Young Guns, Business North Carolina, 2022
• Leadership Wilmington, Class of 2020
• Boy Scouts of America, Eagle Scout
• NC Attorney Pro Bono Honor Society Inductee, NC Pro Bono Resource Center, 2021, 2020
• North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Appellate Practice

 

Professional and Community Affiliations

• Federal Bar Association
• Fourth Circuit's Criminal Justice Act Appellate Panel
• North Carolina Bar Association—Appellate Section, CLE Committee Chair; Appellate Section, Pro Bono Committee Chair; Appellate Rules Committee; Antitrust and Complex Business Disputes, YLD Liaison
• North Carolina Guardian ad Litem Program

Related News

• Chris Edwards Named to Wilmington Chamber of Commerce 2024 40 Under 40 Awards
• 67 Ward and Smith Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers® in America for 2025
• 11 Ward and Smith Attorneys Honored in the 2024 Benchmark Litigation 40 & Under List

Admitted to Practice

• North Carolina, 2014
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina, 2018
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 2017
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 2021

* Please see the following websites for an explanation of the membership standards for the following recognitions: www.bestlawyers.com; businessnc.com/special-sections/legal-elite/; and www.superlawyers.com/north-carolina.