Hunter D. Cornelius

Community Associations Attorney
Ward and Smith, P.A.
Email hdcornelius@wardandsmith.com
919.277.9147 Fax 919.277.9177
Post Office Box 33009, Raleigh, NC 27636-3009

Hunter is a community associations attorney who navigates the complexities of homeowner association law. He provides comprehensive counsel to community association board members and managers on all facets of their operations, including maintaining and amending Bylaws and Declarations of Covenants, corporate governance, collections matters, and resolving disputes with homeowners. 

Before joining Ward and Smith, Hunter gained invaluable experience serving as a law clerk for the Honorable Fred Gore of the North Carolina Court of Appeals. His judicial experience is further enriched by his time as a judicial intern for the Honorable Albert Diaz of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Education

  • J.D., magna cum laude, Elon University School of Law, 2020
  • B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2017

Professional and Community Affiliations

  • North Carolina Bar Association, Member, Real Property and Appellate Law Sections

Admitted to Practice

  • North Carolina, 2020

About Me

The best thing about Ward and Smith is…The community. Everyone here truly cares about the people they work with. The culture here makes it easy to come to work every day knowing there is a focus on teamwork and dedication to our clients.

One surprising thing people don't know about me is…I spent a year working at Walt Disney World. While there, I learned valuable customer service skills from a leader in the industry.

Where I'd most like to live and why: Here in Raleigh! I was born and raised in Raleigh, making it an easy decision to move back following law school. Raleigh is truly home to me, and it is exciting to see the continued growth here in the Triangle.

An attorney‑client relationship may only be established through direct attorney‑to‑client communication that is confirmed by the execution of an engagement agreement. The content of any unsolicited email sent to Ward and Smith, P.A., or to any of its attorneys at an email address available on this website, will not create an attorney‑client relationship and the contents of such unsolicited email shall not be considered confidential. Therefore, do not use this website or the email addresses available on this website to provide confidential information about yourself or a legal matter to Ward and Smith or any of its attorneys.

  • American Board of Trial Advocates
  • Legal Elite Business North Carolina 2024
  • Super Lawyers 2021
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers 2025
  • U.S. News Best Lawyers 2025
  • 2024 Chambers USA

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