CHARLOTTE (July 9, 2019) -- Seyfarth Shaw LLP announced today the opening of an office in Charlotte, the firm's first in the region, which has grown into an increasingly important hub for its clients. Serving clients around the globe, this marks Seyfarth's 16th office.

Seyfarth's office will be located at 121 West Trade in Uptown, and will be led by veteran Seyfarth partners Frederick T. "Fritz" Smith and Eric Sidman, who live in Charlotte and will serve as office co-managing partners.

"We were drawn to Charlotte by our clients, who we have served in this market for many years as they encouraged us to join them," said Pete Miller, Seyfarth's chair and managing partner. "We are excited to expand on these efforts today with a strong local presence on the ground in Charlotte that complements our growing platform."

With more than 25 active clients in the market, including Compass Group, Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA), and Wells Fargo, among others, Seyfarth's Charlotte office will initially be comprised of 8 to 10 lawyers from the firm's nationally ranked Labor & Employment and Real Estate departments as it grows into a full-service office.

"This is the first step toward establishing a significant footprint in Charlotte, and we already have the privilege of working with a wide range of clients here," said Fritz Smith, a Wake Forest alumnus and Labor & Employment department partner, who formerly chaired Seyfarth's Employment Litigation & Counseling practice group. "Charlotte is a vibrant market for legal talent, and we're excited to build a diverse and talented team to serve clients old and new."

"Charlotte is among the three fastest growing U.S. cities, and the second-largest U.S. banking center," said Eric Sidman, a Winston-Salem native and partner in the Real Estate department. "This is a dynamic market for our clients, and we look forward to strengthening our relationships here as we grow together."

Long recognized for its dedication, excellence, and innovation in serving clients, Seyfarth recently earned a number of honors from Legal 500 and Chambers USA, which noted the firm's continued leadership across a variety of practice areas in 2019. In May, the firm was also ranked as one of the strongest law firm brands in the world by corporate counsel, according to BTI Consulting, where Seyfarth earned "Best of the Best" status for its use of technology to add value to the client experience.