Todd Smith
Smith Giles, PLLC Attorneys at Law
Meet Todd Smith
Attorney
At Smith Giles, PLLC Attorneys at Law, we believe that the legal system is not merely a complex matrix of statutes, procedures, and courtroom guidelines—it is the ultimate battlefield where your personal liberty, constitutional rights, and future security are protected. When you are facing serious state or federal criminal charges, navigating an intensive civil suit, or standing before a court of law, you cannot afford passive representation or a clinical, detached approach to your defense. Serving as a primary vision, lead litigator, and founding partner behind our premier Graham, North Carolina firm is Todd Allen Smith. Todd has dedicated his professional life to mastering the intricate sciences of trial advocacy, constitutional defense, and forensic evidence analysis. By combining an extraordinary, multi-decade legacy of practical courtroom experience with an unyielding commitment to aggressive advocacy, Todd brings an authoritative, highly strategic leadership style that ensures every client under the Smith Giles banner receives an unmatched standard of protection.
Operating a premier, high-stakes defense and civil litigation practice demands an intricate balance of forensic investigation, rapid tactical execution, and seamless client communication. Todd has carefully organized our firm's daily operations to deliver elite consultative and courtroom results on every front, ensuring that individuals facing life-altering legal hurdles receive transparent updates, comprehensive tactical options, and immediate, honest counsel. He understands that a criminal investigation or a sudden indictment can induce immense anxiety and disrupt your entire family structure, which is why he approaches every discovery review, motion to suppress, and trial strategy with a rigid standard of personal accountability. When you choose Smith Giles, PLLC Attorneys at Law, you are partnering directly with a verified local authority who puts his name, reputation, and lifetime of proven trial mastery behind your defense, fighting tirelessly to protect your rights across all stages of the legal process.
Deeply Rooted in the Alamance County Community
For Todd Allen Smith, practicing law is a deeply personal endeavor that connects him directly to the neighborhoods, families, and working communities of Alamance County. Todd has laid down incredibly strong, multi-generational roots in the Burlington, North Carolina area, growing up surrounded by the industrious spirit of local commerce. His father served the neighborhood as a dedicated local pharmacist, his mother operated as a skilled regional jeweler, his stepfather contributed to Burlington Industries as a talented computer systems analyst, and his stepmother guided local youth as a substitute teacher in the Burlington City School system. Attending school locally at Grove Park Elementary, Hillcrest Elementary, and Turrentine Middle School before graduating from Williams High School, Todd’s foundational years were fully immersed in the local community he now defends.
Before ascending to the absolute pinnacle of the legal profession, Todd forged an unbreakable work ethic and a deep empathy for working people by engaging directly in the local trades. Throughout his educational journey, he worked hands-on as a jeweler, a welder, an insurance underwriter, and a skilled carpenter—all while raising three children who have made him extraordinarily proud, including two college graduates and two brave sons who have stepped up to serve their country in the United States Air Force and the United States Army. This diverse life experience gives Todd a unique, grounded perspective that standard corporate lawyers simply do not possess. He knows what it means to work hard, protect a family, and face real-world friction, translating that native grit directly into a compassionate, supportive office culture where clients are embraced as neighbors and treated with the absolute highest tier of respect.
An Elite Educational Pedigree and Over Two Decades of Trial Mastery
Great trial advocacy and structural legal strategy are never accidental; they require a profound academic foundation and thousands of hours behind the counsel table. Following his high school graduation, Todd earned his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the prestigious University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, refining his analytical command of systemic governance and constitutional history. He followed his undergraduate success by earning his Juris Doctor from the highly respected University of North Carolina School of Law, graduating in 1999. After completing a highly coveted, one-year federal appointment working directly with a Federal Bankruptcy Judge in Charlotte, North Carolina, Todd returned home to open his own independent law office in Graham—a practice he operated with immense success for twenty years before merging his firm with Robert Giles in 2019 to establish Smith Giles, PLLC.
Throughout his more than two decades of continuous, elite field tenure, Todd has successfully planned and executed the defense for tens of thousands of criminal cases across the North Carolina State and Federal Courts, ranging from basic traffic infractions to high-profile First Degree Murder indictments. He stands as one of the most experienced and battle-tested criminal trial attorneys in the region, having personally represented over thirty individual clients charged with first-degree murder. Todd has tried approximately 100 comprehensive jury trials to verdict across diverse courts—masterfully litigating complex felony assaults, federal drug conspiracies, firearms indictments, white-collar fraud, personal injury, rape, and homicide cases. This unparalleled repository of real-world trial wisdom allows Todd to view a prosecution’s file forensically, identifying subtle constitutional violations and structural evidence gaps that less experienced lawyers frequently overlook.
A Rare Dual-Board Certified Specialist in State and Federal Criminal Law
Todd’s primary area of professional expertise lies in his elite distinction as a Board-Certified Specialist in North Carolina Criminal Law (certified since 2010) and a Board-Certified Specialist in Federal Criminal Law (certified since 2015). Achieving dual specialist certification from the North Carolina State Bar represents an extraordinary professional milestone, indicating that Todd has passed rigorous peer evaluations, demonstrated absolute ethical clarity, and completed exhaustive legal examinations across both judicial networks. This rare credential positions Todd within a highly exclusive tier of legal practitioners, making him one of only 63 attorneys in the entire state of North Carolina to hold bar-certified specializations in both state and federal criminal disciplines as of 2019.
Furthermore, Todd is the only attorney whose primary office is located in Alamance County who regularly and comprehensively represents individuals within the Federal Court system. He is formally admitted to practice law across all three United States District Courts in North Carolina—the Eastern District (since 2008), the Middle District (since 2000), and the Western District (since 1999). His specialized federal insight allows him to navigate the highly complex federal sentencing guidelines, intensive grand jury indictments, and rigorous federal investigative protocols with absolute authority. Todd’s appellate mastery matches his trial capabilities; he regularly handles high-stakes appeals before the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the North Carolina State Supreme Court, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and has been admitted to the bar of the United States Supreme Court since 2008—ensuring your defense is managed at the absolute highest level of the American judiciary.
An Aggressive, Uncompromising Trial Philosophy
To truly understand the internal engine and unyielding commitment to victory that defines Todd Allen Smith’s practice at Smith Giles, PLLC Attorneys at Law, one only has to examine his core litigation philosophy: “The best defense is a good offense.” Todd completely rejects the passive, over-compliant negotiation styles that many modern lawyers use to process high volumes of cases quickly. He believes that the constitutional right to a zealous defense demands an aggressive, forward-moving strategy that forces the government to prove every single element of their case under intense courtroom scrutiny.
This bold litigation mindset is perfectly illustrated by Todd’s favorite historical quote, attributed to Winston Churchill during the height of World War II: “We will defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.” Todd applies this exact same unyielding, warrior-like dedication to every single client he represents. Whether he is arguing a complex motion to suppress illegal evidence before a state judge, cross-examining a federal agent during a multi-day jury trial, or filing an appellate brief to reverse an unjust conviction, Todd fights on every front with absolute courage, mental clarity, and tactical brilliance.
Uncompromising Professional Standards and Full Legal Accountability
Navigating a complex criminal indictment or a major civil litigation asset battle represents an extraordinary emotional and financial crisis for your household, which is why Todd places the absolute highest priority on professional accountability, legal compliance, and ironclad client confidentiality. Smith Giles, PLLC Attorneys at Law operates under the absolute strictest ethical mandates of the North Carolina State Bar and all state and federal regulatory frameworks. Our firm maintains complete professional protections, providing an absolute shield of security for your sensitive personal data, corporate records, and legal standing from the moment you step into our office.
We pride ourselves on our absolute honesty and straightforward pricing models, providing transparent evaluations of your case files and detailed contract structures with absolutely no hidden legal fees or surprise administrative upcharges. By marrying our firm’s deep local presence with Todd’s dual board-certified technical precision and aggressive trial methodology, we consistently deliver premier legal solutions that safeguard your liberty and protect your future. We stand firmly behind every motion we file, every brief we draft, and every client we defend, because we know our multi-generational family reputation is carried entirely on the lasting strength, safety, and victory of the neighbors who trust our name.
Let’s Mount Your Powerfully Aggressive Defense Today
Whether you are facing a serious federal white-collar or drug conspiracy indictment, require a highly experienced trial attorney to defend against severe state felony or homicide charges, need comprehensive representation for a high-stakes civil litigation or personal injury battle, or are seeking an expert appellate lawyer to challenge a past judicial ruling, Todd Allen Smith and the elite legal division at Smith Giles, PLLC Attorneys at Law are ready to deploy on your behalf. Experience the massive difference that comes with partnering with an owner-operated local favorite backed by dual board-certified specialist credentials, over 24 years of unblemished courtroom mastery, and a true heart for the working families of North Carolina.
Don’t compromise your freedom, your family’s security, and your constitutional rights by working with uncertified contractors or hands-off legal operations that avoid the courtroom. Contact Todd and the professional defense team at Smith Giles, PLLC Attorneys at Law today to discuss your specific legal situation, explore your constitutional defense pathways, and receive a comprehensive, completely confidential project evaluation. Reach out to our Graham office today to schedule your custom legal consultation, and take the first step toward a powerfully aggressive offense today.
Fight for your future with a dual board-certified trial master. Contact Smith Giles, PLLC Attorneys at Law today to schedule your legal consultation or request a comprehensive case evaluation.
Todd Allen Smith, Attorney
