Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, LLP

Addie Ries co-chairs the firm’s Products and General Litigation practice group and focuses her practice on toxic tort, products liability and mass tort cases involving catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, property damage and environmental contamination. Versed in the nationwide landscape and science of PFAS, asbestos, benzene and other toxic tort litigation, she regularly serves as primary counsel and national counsel defending her clients against cases filed as individual actions, class actions and as part of the nation’s largest PFAS multi-district litigation (MDL). Addie is co-chair of the firm’s Toxic Torts, PFAS and Asbestos Litigation practice and regularly advises clients regarding PFAS litigation and counseling. She also has significant experience in breach of contract disputes, corporate governance/shareholder litigation and franchise disputes. She has represented clients from a broad range of industries, including the aviation, automotive, chemical, financial, hospitality, pharmaceutical/medical device, manufacturing, real estate, utilities, professional sports and transportation industries.

Addie has represented clients in such litigation matters through jury and bench trials before state and federal courts in North Carolina, South Carolina, and other jurisdictions nationwide. She has also appeared before the American Arbitration Association in national and international arbitration matters.

Addie is dedicated to meeting her clients’ needs with experience and efficiency. In addition to vigorously defending her clients’ interests in litigation, she regularly counsels clients in anticipating and resolving disputes before they reach litigation.

Based on reviews from her peers, Addie has been honored by The Best Lawyers in America© for Commercial Litigation and awarded an "AV Preeminent" rating in Litigation, Commercial Law, and Aviation and Aerospace by Martindale Hubbell. She enjoys serving her profession and her community and previously served on the Board of Directors for Children’s Flight of Hope and currently serves on the North Carolina Bar Association’s Litigation Section Council.