George B. Autry, Jr. has been a trial lawyer since 1991 and has practiced exclusively eminent domain since 1993. Before joining Cranfill, Sumner, LLP as a partner in 2001, George was a partner in Autry & Crabill, a Raleigh eminent domain law firm. Prior to representing exclusively property owners in eminent domain matters, George Autry handled condemnation cases as an Associate Attorney General for the State of North Carolina. George’s career has included over fifty cases where the property owner has received in excess of one million dollars.
Since leaving the Attorney General’s office in 1999, George Autry has limited his practice to representing property owners facing eminent domain. He has tried over a dozen multi-million dollar land condemnation cases to favorable jury verdicts, resulting in awards greatly in excess of the condemnor’s estimated just compensation. George, along with his wife and law partner, Stephanie Autry, has won the two largest land condemnation judgments in NCDOT history. George’s career includes trial and settlements of virtually every type of eminent domain case, including condemnations of shopping centers, golf courses, gas stations, hotels, mining and manufacturing facilities, office and residential condominiums, livestock farms, schools, churches, and automobile dealerships. George B. Autry, Jr. regularly represents clients against the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the City of Charlotte, the Triangle Transit Authority, and Duke Energy Progress.
For the past ten years, George Autry has represented North Carolina in the Owners’ Counsel of America, a group of attorneys (one from each state) recognized nationally as leaders in the practice of eminent domain. He was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Owners’ Counsel of America . George was also appointed Chairman of the Land Condemnation Specialty Committee by the North Carolina State Bar.
Representative clients include Target, Inc., Developers Diversified Realty, Chick Fil A, Public Storage, Pro-Build, Inc., Boggs Construction Company, and many other individuals and businesses.
Articles, Presentations, and Publications
•George has spoken and presented at programs at various eminent domain seminars and currently presents at area continuing legal education programs.
Representative examples are:
•The Condemnation Process - Fair Play Along the Road
•Valuation of a Partially Developed Tract of Land - Lots v. Land
•Partial Takings and Damages to the Remainder
•Damages for Loss of Visibility
Accomplishments
•Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers Lawyer Of The Year in the field of Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law (2012, 2019, 2024, 2026)
•Selected for inclusion in North Carolina Super Lawyers in the field of Eminent Domain (2012, 2018)
•Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America in the field of Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law (2007-2009, 2013-2015, 2018-2026)
•Outstanding Volunteer Attorney, Wake County (1993)
Most Recent Posts
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Our Top 10 Resources of 2025
Throughout the year, the attorneys at Cranfill Sumner LLP strive to provide the public with the latest updates on North...
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Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year”
Five attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP were recently recognized as the Best Lawyers 2026 “Lawyer of the Year” in their respective practice areas. “Lawyer of the Year” is presented annually to one attorney in each practice area in each market....
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33 CSH Law Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2026
Thirty-three attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2026....
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How Your Property Is Valued in an Eminent Domain Case
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Jeremy Hopkins Selected as NC Representative to Owners’ Counsel of America
Jeremy Hopkins has been selected to serve as the North Carolina state representative for the Owners’ Counsel of America (OCA). Jeremy succeeds George Autry who held the position since 2014....
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Common Questions about Eminent Domain
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What Is Eminent Domain?
What is Eminent Domain? If you’re seeking a definition of eminent domain, you’ve likely recently received unsettling news from a...
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32 CSH Law Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2025
Thirty-two attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2025....
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CSH Law Attorneys Receive Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” Recognition
Six attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently named among the Best Lawyers 2024 “Lawyers of the Year.”...
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32 CSH Law Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2024
Thirty-two attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2024....
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Harnett County Jury Awards Property Owner $5 Million for Property Taken by NCDOT
A Harnett County jury awarded a property owner $5,084,000 earlier this week for the taking of his partially redeveloped hotel. Amar Patel was represented by the Cranfill Sumner LLP attorneys George Autry and Jeremy Hopkins. The trial lasted six days with the jury ultimately deliberating for approximately 50 minutes....
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25 CSH Law Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2023
Twenty-five attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2023....
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Settlement Involving Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Featured in NC Lawyer’s Weekly
Cranfill Sumner LLP attorneys George Autry, Stephanie Autry and Jeremy Hopkins were featured in the Feb. 15 edition of N.C....
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26 CSH Law Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2022
Twenty-six attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2022....
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CSH Law Attorneys Featured in NC Lawyers Weekly Top Verdicts of 2020
Settlements involving Cranfill Sumner LLP were featured in the Top Verdicts & Settlements of 2020 by NC Lawyers Weekly....
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27 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2021
Twenty-seven attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2021 (Copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC)....
News
31 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2020
Thirty-one attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2020(Copyright 2019 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC)....
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NC Lawyers Weekly Top V&S of 2018 Features 3 Settlements by Cranfill Sumner Land Condemnation and Eminent Domain Law Practice Group
North Carolina Lawyer’s Weekly featured three settlements from the Land Condemnation and Eminent Domain Law Practice Group at Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) in its “Top V&S of 2018: Eminent domain and defense verdicts” which was released Feb. 25, 2019....
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Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Receive Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” Recognition
Four attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently named the Best Lawyers 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” for their respective practice areas in their local metropolitan area. (Copyright 2018 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC)...
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32 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2019
Thirty-two attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2019 (Copyright 2018 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC)....
News
20 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Named to 2018 N.C. Super Lawyers and Rising Star Lists
Today Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) proudly announced that 20 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2018 North Carolina Super Lawyers and 2018 North Carolina Rising Stars lists....
News
33 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2018
Thirty-three attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2018 (Copyright 2017 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC). Eight attorneys were selected for inclusion in the list for the first time....
News
17 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Named to 2017 North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars List
Today Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) proudly announced that 17 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2017 North Carolina Super Lawyers and 2017 North Carolina Rising Stars lists....
News
26 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2017
Twenty-six attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2017 (Copyright 2016 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC)....
News
28 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2016
Twenty-eight attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2016....
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Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Receive $1.2 Million Verdict for Shopping Center
George and Stephanie Autry recently won a $1.2 million verdict for the owners of a commercial shopping center located in Wilmington....
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News & Observer Interviews George Autry
George Autry, Jr., Co-Chair of the Land Condemnation & Eminent Domain Practice Group at Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP, was recently...
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24 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2015
Twenty-four attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America....
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NC Lawyers Weekly Top 25 List Features Three Settlements by Land Condemnation & Eminent Domain Practice Group
NC Lawyer’s Weekly Top 25 Verdicts and Settlements of 2013 features three settlements by the Land Condemnation & Eminent Domain practice group of Cranfill Sumner....
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George Autry and Stephanie Autry Make Eminent Domain/Land Condemnation Presentations
George Autry and Stephanie Autry, of Cranfill Sumner, Present on “Use of First and Second Generation Rents and Just Compensation” and “Trial Exhibits that Work.”...
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George Autry Elected to Owners’ Counsel of America Board of Directors
George Autry, Co-Chair of the Land Condemnation and Eminent Domain Practice Group, was elected to the board of directors for the Owners’ Counsel of America....
News
25 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2014
Cranfill Sumner is proud to announce that 25 of its attorneys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America ....
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23 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2013 Edition
Twenty-three lawyers from Cranfill Sumner were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2013...
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Cranfill Sumner Lands 17 Attorneys in the Best Lawyers in America 2012 Edition
Cranfill Sumner, one of the largest civil defense firms in North Carolina, announced today that 17 of its attorneys selected The Best Lawyers in America....
Result
Land Condemnation & Eminent Domain
To view all case results for the Land Condemnation and Eminent Domain Group at Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP, visit: http://www.csh-eminentdomain.com/case-results/ ....
