Robby Lawson brings a genuine zeal and commitment to ensuring that all elements of transactions come together properly for his clients, who include major publicly and privately held companies, office park and shopping center landlords and tenants, regional real estate developers and local business owners. His ability to see an issue (or opportunity) from multiple perspectives, specialized experience and knack for uncovering what is truly in the best interest of his clients enable Robby to be an effective advocate. In addition, Robby serves as chair of the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee.
Robby is a North Carolina Board Certified Specialist in Real Property Law (Business, Commercial and Industrial Transactions). His practice focuses on all aspects and types of commercial real estate, including buyer and seller representation in real estate transactions; commercial lease negotiation, drafting, evictions and collections; borrower and lender representation in commercial loans; condominium law; easements; land development; and commercial foreclosures.
Robby’s experience also includes helping address the real estate needs of solar energy clients, including the preparation of ground leases, easement agreements, options to purchase, purchase agreements, and other documents relating solar energy facilities.
Robby has been recognized as a leading real estate attorney in the U.S. by Chambers USA (2015-present) and listed in North Carolina Super Lawyers in the Real Estate category (2014-present). He was previously listed in North Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2012-2013). In 2013, Business North Carolina named him to the “Legal Elite Hall of Fame” for obtaining the highest number of votes in North Carolina in the Real Estate category. He had been a past “Legal Elite” winner for Real Estate (2011-2012) and one of the “Young Guns” (2012-2013). Martindale-Hubbell has rated Robby an AV attorney, its highest rating.
In addition, in 2015, the Triangle Business Journal named Robby a 40 Under 40 Leadership Awards winner, and, in 2011, the Triangle Business Leader presented Robby the Mover & Shakers Award. Robby is actively involved with the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, and graduated from the Leadership Raleigh program in 2013 and the Emerging Leaders program in 2012. In April 2013, he attended the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce’s Inter-City Visit & Leadership Conference in Oklahoma City.
Committed to enhancing the Raleigh community, Robby volunteers with several community organizations. In 2017, Robby was named to the board of directors of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, an award-winning nonprofit organization whose mission is to continue the revitalization of Raleigh’s downtown by enhancing its quality of life and contributing to its economic success. Previously, Robby volunteered for the Downtown Raleigh Alliance’s Annual Downtown Raleigh Home Tour, serving as chairperson of the Home Tour in 2011 and 2012.
From 2014 through 2017, Robby served on the board of directors of the United Arts Council of Wake County, which enhances the community through support and advocacy for the arts. Shortly after joining the United Arts Council board in 2014, he took a leadership position as head of the Development Committee and as a head panelist for the Grants Committee. During his term, Robby also served as vice chair of development for the United Arts Council. In November 2014, Robby hosted a “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” fundraiser at his downtown condominium featuring sound and light artist Craig Stelzenmuller.
In January 2015, Robby concluded his fourth full year on the board of the Capital City Clauses, serving as president of the organization from 2013-2014 and as an active board member in 2014. Under Robby’s leadership as president of the organization, the Capital City Clauses raised over 7,500 toys for the Christmas Cheer Program of the Salvation Army of Wake County through the organization’s annual fundraisers, including the Jingle Ball, Jingle in July, the Stock the Sled Toy Drive and local company toy drives. In his one-year term as president, he committed almost 300 hours to the organization.
Additionally, Robby served on the board of his homeowner’s association, where he presided as president from 2010-2013. In 2012 and 2013, Robby volunteered for the SAFEchild Advocacy Center, where he helped that organization with a marketing and fundraising plan and made a presentation to the board relating to that plan.
Robby is actively involved with the North Carolina Bar Association. In 2015, he was appointed to the Real Property Council of the North Carolina Bar Association. Since 2013, Robby has been involved with the Forms Committee with the Real Property Section of the North Carolina Bar Association.
Robby received his B.A. from the University of Virginia and his J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law, where he was Student Bar Association president, an executive member of the Moot Court Board and chief justice of Phi Alpha Delta. He also received his M.B.A from Wake Forest University Babcock Graduate School of Management, where he served as an executive member of the Student Government Association.
In his free time, Robby enjoys traveling, watching college football and college basketball and playing sports. Robby regularly plays kickball, dodgeball, flag football and tennis. Robby has competed in numerous national tournaments for kickball and dodgeball in Las Vegas and Washington, D.C.
Robby served as the kickball co-director of the 2018 Stonewall Sports National Tournament held in New Orleans and the 2019 Stonewall Sports National Tournament in Raleigh. Robby is the current four-term director of the kickball league for Stonewall Sports-Raleigh and was the director of the flag football league for Stonewall Sports-Raleigh for two years before that. He has served as a nine-time team captain of his kickball team Sir Walter and was voted as an all-star player in 2015 and 2016. Robby is also the three-time team captain of his championship-winning dodgeball team Slumdodge Millionaires.