Susan K. Burkhart, a partner with Cranfill Sumner LLP since its founding in 1992, has a dual focus in her practice: insurance defense litigation and municipal land use litigation. In these areas, she has instituted or defended over 100 declaratory judgment actions, and has defended numerous class actions. She has tried numerous jury and bench trials in state and federal court, and has appeared before the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the North Carolina Supreme Court, all three districts of the United States District Court of North Carolina, and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Susan’s decades of professional achievement as a litigator are recognized in her attainment of an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. She has also served as Chair of the Litigation Section of the North Carolina Bar Association, and has served on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Bar Association and the Wake County Bar Association. She is a member of both the Insurance section and the Planning and Zoning section of the North Carolina Bar Association.
Susan is a frequent lecturer on insurance coverage and land use issues. She has been honored and selected by her peers as one of The Best Lawyers in America in the area of insurance coverage. She has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America publication since 2007 and has been selected through balloting as one of North Carolina’s Super Lawyers since 2009.
Susan has achieved numerous successes, through dispositive motions, at trial, and on appeal, in defense of insurers and agents in coverage and bad faith actions. She has successfully defended numerous towns and cities, across North Carolina, in response to constitutional and statutory challenges to zoning, planning, and development ordinances. She also counsels insurers and municipalities on best practices to avoid litigation.
Articles, Presentations, and Publications
•Author and Speaker, “Water and Sewer Impact Fee Cases: Town of Carthage and Beyond,” North Carolina League of Municipalities, June 8, 2017.
•Author and Speaker, “Coverage for Cyber Liability Claims,” North Carolina Bar Association Insurance Law annual meeting, April 11, 2014.
•Author and presenter, “Hot Topics in Commercial General Liability Insurance,” North Carolina Bar Association, Fall 2009.
•Author and Speaker, “Insurance Coverage Issues in Construction Claims,” N.C. Defense Attorneys Association, Fall 2007.
•Co-Author, “North Carolina Bad Faith Insurance Compendium,” Defense Research Institute, 2008, 2009.
•“Recent Developments in CGL, Auto and Property Law: 2008,” Fall CSH Educational Seminar 2008.
•“Recent Developments in CGL, Auto and Property Law: 2007,” Spring CSH Educational Seminar 2007.
•Author and Speaker “Recent Developments in CGL, Auto and Property Law,” Annual CSH Educational Seminar 2005 to present.
•Author and Speaker, “Material Misrepresentations and Other Ways to Avoid Coverage,” North Carolina Bar Association.
•Author and Speaker, “Civil Procedure, Nuts and Bolts of North Carolina Law,” North Carolina Bar Association.
•Author and Speaker, “Vested Rights Can Cost You,” North Carolina League of Municipalities Fall Seminar 2010.
Accomplishments
•Selected by North Carolina Super Lawyers as a Super Lawyer (2009 - 2019)
•Martindale-Hubbell, AV Rated
•Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America in the field of Insurance Law (2007, 2013-2020)
•Named the Best Lawyers Raleigh Insurance Law Lawyer of the Year (2014, 2017)
•NC Super Lawyers Business Edition (2014)
•Recognized as a Lawyer of the Year Honoree in the 2017 Women in the Law by Best Lawyers Business Edition (2017)
•Selected for inclusion in the 2017 Women in the Law by Best Lawyers Business Edition in the field of Insurance Law (2017)
MOST RECENT POSTS
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)....
News
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Assist in Bar Exam Interview Sessions
Several Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) attorneys assisted with interviews for the February 2019 bar exam session for the North Carolina Board of Law Examiners. Cranfill Sumner is committed to giving back to the legal community and is proud to support the NC State Bar admissions process....
News
21 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Named to 2019 North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
Today Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) proudly announced that 21 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2019 North Carolina Super Lawyers and 2019 North Carolina Rising Stars lists....
News
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
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Recognized by Women in the Law List
Seven female attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently listed among the 2017 Women in the Law by Best Lawyers Business Edition. The list was printed in the Spring 2017 edition and recognizes female attorneys from each state....
News
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Participate in 4ALL Statewide Service Day
Six attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) participated in the North Carolina Bar Association’s 10th Annual 4ALL Statewide Service Day on Friday, March 3. The statewide event is sponsored by the North Carolina Bar Association Foundation and the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA)....
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
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Receive Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” Recognition in 2017
Attorneys chosen for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2017 Five attorneys from Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP (Cranfill...
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
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Listed Among 2016 Women in the Law
Best Lawyers Business Edition featured Cranfill Sumner LLP attorneys among its Best Lawyers Business Edition 2016 Women in the Law list. This is the inaugural year for the Women in the Law list by the publication....
News
Susan Burkhart Speaks About Cyber Insurance
Susan Burkhart, Chair of the Insurance Law & Coverage Practice Group at Cranfill Sumner LLP, will discuss “Insurance Coverage for Cyber Exposures” at the 2016 Insurance Law Section Annual Meeting and CLE on April 25. Susan’s presentation will address recent caselaw addressing coverage for cyber events under CGL policies and new cyber liability policies....
News
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Participate in 4ALL Statewide Service Day
Eight attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) participated in the North Carolina Bar Association’s 9th Annual 4ALL Statewide Service Day on Friday, March 4. The statewide event is sponsored by the North Carolina Bar Association Foundation and the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA)....
News
17 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Named to 2016 North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH) is proud to announce that 16 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2016 North Carolina Super Lawyers and 2016 North Carolina Rising Stars lists....
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....
News
Susan Burkhart to Address PLAN Meeting
Susan Burkhart, Chair of the Insurance Law & Coverage Practice Group at Cranfill Sumner LLP, will speak at the 2015 PLAN Regional Meeting in NYC....
News
Susan Burkhart to Speak at I-Day 2015 Event
Susan Burkhart, the Chair of the Insurance Law & Coverage Practice Group at Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner), will be a featured speaker at “Meeting Tomorrow’s Challenges I-Day 2015.”...
News
20 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Named to 2015 North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
Cranfill Sumner announced that 20 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2015 North Carolina Super Lawyers and North Carolina Rising Stars lists....
News
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Named to 2014 Super Lawyers Business Edition
Cranfill Sumner is proud to announced that nine of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2014 Super Lawyers Business Edition....
News
Cranfill Sumner Presents Client Education Conference at McKimmon Center
Cranfill Sumner hosts Client Education Conference: Workers’ Compensation & General Liability Law Updates at the McKimmon Conference and Training Center in Raleigh. ...
News
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....
News
Susan Burkhart Receives 2014 “Lawyer of the Year” Recognition From Best Lawyers
Susan Burkhart, an attorney with Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner), was named the Best Lawyers 2014 Raleigh Insurance Law “Lawyer of the Year.”...
News
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys to Speak at Insurance Law Section Annual Meeting
Ted Smyth and Susan Burkhart, attorneys based in the Raleigh office of Cranfill Sumner, discuss Emerging Data Breaches at the Insurance Law Section Annual Meeting....
News
21 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Named to 2014 North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars List
Cranfill Sumner announced that 21 of its attorneys are selected for inclusion in the 2014 North Carolina Super Lawyers and 2014 North Carolina Rising Stars lists....
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 ....
News
24 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected as 2013 North Carolina Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
Ten Cranfill Sumner attorneys were selected as 2013 North Carolina Super Lawyers and 14 Cranfill Sumner attorneys were selected as 2013 North Carolina Rising Stars....
News
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...
News
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....
