Theodore B. Smyth

Ted Smyth is Of Counsel at the Raleigh office of Cranfill Sumner. He has been a litigation attorney since 1981 and has been involved in a wide variety of cases involving commercial, insurance, and tort-related issues. In 2020, Ted was accepted as a fellow of the American College of Coverage Counsel (ACCC). He is named in The Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants.

His interest in insurance law has led him to be named Best Lawyers 2011, 2019, and 2024 Raleigh Insurance Law “Lawyer of the Year” in addition to being included in the 2022 Raleigh “Lawyer of the Year” list for Bet-The-Company Litigation. In 2013, he was selected to be the founding Chair of the newly formed Insurance Law Section for the North Carolina Bar Association. He has litigated many cases involving tort, insurance-related, and commercial issues, and spoken to professional organizations and written extensively on these topics.

He enjoys litigating a broad range of cases and has done so for plaintiffs and for defendants. He believes it is useful in the courtroom to have the perspective and experience that comes from not limiting representation exclusively to either plaintiffs or defendants.

Ted has been accorded the top AV ranking by Martindale-Hubbell. He is a Past President of the Eastern North Carolina Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Ted and his wife, Melissa, are residents of Raleigh and have three daughters - Elizabeth, Anne, and Margaret. Ted served as President of the North Carolina Triangle to the Coast Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation from 2011 to 2012. In 2012, he served as the President of the Tenth Judicial District Bar Association, the largest local bar in the state. He is past Chair of the Insurance Law Section for the North Carolina Bar Association. He enjoys spending any leftover time hiking with his family in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

Accomplishments

•Chambers and Partners, Ranked Band 1: Insurance (2024, 2025)
•Cranfill Sumner LLP Core Value Award (2024)
•Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America in the fields of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (2007-2026); Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants (2007-2026); Bet-the-Company Litigation (2007-2026); Commercial Litigation (2007-2026); Insurance Law (2007-2021, 2023-2026)
•Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers Lawyer Of The Year in the field of Insurance Law - Raleigh (2011, 2019, 2024)
•Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers Lawyer Of The Year in the field of Bet-the-Company Litigation - Raleigh (2022)
•Business North Carolina Legal Elite - Litigation (2023)
•Selected for inclusion in North Carolina Super Lawyers (2007-2020)
•Martindale-Hubbell, AV Rated
•Hospice of Wake County, Dr. William Dunlap Award for Excellence (2002)

Most Recent Posts

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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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Attorneys and Firm Honored by Chambers and Partners

For the second consecutive year, Ted Smyth and Jennifer Welch were ranked by Chambers and Partners in the area of Insurance. In addition, the firm was ranked as a Tier 1 firm....

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Cranfill Sumner Staffs Pro Bono Empower Hour

Cranfill Sumner LLP attorneys and summer clerks volunteered for the North Carolina Bar Foundation pro bono clinic the Empower Hour on June 3. ...

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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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Cranfill Sumner Awards 2024 Core Value Awards

Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) today announced the winners of its 2024 Core Value Awards. The firm honored five individuals...

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Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Ranked by Chambers and Partners

Ted Smyth and Jennifer Welch have been ranked by Chambers and Partners in the area of Insurance, a new category for the organization in North Carolina....

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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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Ted Smyth Presents at NCBA Insurance Law Section Spotlight

Ted Smyth served as a presenter at the NC Bar Association Insurance Law Section Spotlight on May 25. The virtual event began at noon....

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Ted Smyth Participates in Mock Trial

Ted Smyth, an attorney at Cranfill Sumner LLP, participated in a mock trial exercise involving insurance and insurance agency issues. The mock trial was held during the Eastern North Carolina CPCU Society Chapter meeting at the PNC Arena on March 21. ...

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Ted Smyth Named to NC Lawyers Weekly Power List

Ted Smyth, Of Counsel at Cranfill Sumner LLP, was named to the NC Power List by NC Lawyers Weekly. Ted was selected as a “Power Player,” one of the 20 most influential attorneys in Personal Injury....

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Cranfill Sumner LLP Attorneys Listed Among 2023 Legal Elite

Twelve Cranfill Sumner LLP attorneys were recognized by Business North Carolina magazine as part of the magazine’s Legal Elite program. ...

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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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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 2022 “Lawyers of the Year.”...

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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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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)....

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Ted Smyth Admitted as a fellow of American College of Coverage Counsel

Ted Smyth, Of Counsel at Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner), has been accepted as a fellow of the American College of Coverage Counsel (ACCC)....

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Cranfill Sumner Launches COVID-19 Response Team

Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP (Cranfill Sumner) announced the creation of its COVID-19 Response Team. The team is comprised of...

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11 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Named to 2020 North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists

Today Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) proudly announced that 11 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2020 North Carolina Super Lawyers and 2020 North Carolina Rising Stars lists....

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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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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....

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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)....

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Ted Smyth Presents at Natural Disaster Legal CLE

Ted Smyth, Of Counsel with Cranfill Sumner LLP, served as a presenter for the “After the Storm: Advocating for Clients Post-Natural Disaster” webinar sponsored by Legal Aid of North Carolina on Feb. 27....

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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....

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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....

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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....

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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)....

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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....

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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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Ted Smyth to Address NCBA Seminar

Ted Smyth, an attorney in the Raleigh office of Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP, will be a featured speaker at...

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Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Participate in 4ALL Statewide Service Day

Eleven attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) participated in the North Carolina Bar Association’s 8th Annual 4ALL Statewide Service Day on Friday, March 6. ...

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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....

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Ted Smyth Assists Duke Law Students for Mock Mediation

Ted Smyth, Of Counsel at the Raleigh office of Cranfill Sumner LLP, participated in a Mock Mediation Presentation at Duke Law School. Cranfill Sumner...

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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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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....

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Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Participate in 4ALL Statewide Service Day

Ten attorneys from Cranfill Sumner provided vital legal advice and resources in the North Carolina Bar Association’s Annual 4ALL Statewide Service Day....

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Cranfill Sumner Sponsors 2nd Komen Race for the Cure

Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) proudly served as a silver sponsor of the second annual Komen Race for the Cure in Wilmington NC....

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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....

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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 ....