Allen C. Smith

Partner

Allen C. Smith is a Partner at Murphy & Grantland. Previously, Allen worked for 33 years at Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo, LLP, the last 26 as Partner. He joined that firm in 1992 after graduating from the University of North Carolina School of Law with honors.  Allen also served Hedrick Gardner as chair of both the Trucking and Transportation Practice Group and Civil Litigation Practice.

 At Murphy & Grantland, his current practice encompasses Trucking/Transportation, Motor Vehicle Negligence, Insurance Coverage, General Liability, Product Liability, and Commercial Litigation. His client list includes insurance companies, Fortune 500 companies, motor carriers, retailers, contractors, and manufacturers.

Allen has tried more than 100 jury trials to verdict, serving as lead counsel in over 85.  His trial experience includes cases involving motor vehicle negligence, premises liability, products liability, and business disputes.  He has tried and arbitrated first-party claims on behalf of insurers.  Allen has also argued before the North Carolina Court of Appeals, North Carolina Supreme Court, and U.S. Court of Appeals (Fourth Circuit).

 Allen has an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants from 2013 through 2026.  He has also been selected to the North Carolina Super Lawyers® list (Personal Injury – General: Defense), published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines, from 2012 – 2019, and been selected to the North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Power List for Personal Injury, 2021 and Leader in the Law, 2022.  In 2023 Allen was presented with DRI’s Kevin Driskill Outstanding State Representative Award.

Allen is a board member and past president of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys.  He is also a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel and DRI.

While attending UNC School of Law, Allen qualified for the Dean’s List all six semesters and served as a staff member of the North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulation.  He was also a member of the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity.

Outside of work, Allen enjoys playing golf, reading thrillers, running, studying history, and listening to live music.