Robin has broad experience appearing before state and federal courts and commonly represents landowners and local governments, commercial and residential developers and public bodies and boards on a variety of real estate, zoning and land use issues. She has been recognized as a "Best Lawyer in America" in Land Use and Zoning Law, and she has been honored by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyer's For Business as one of the top Zoning and Land Use attorneys in the state of North Carolina.
Representative Experience
Zoning and Land Use Law and Litigation
- Makes regular appearances in state and federal court on behalf of land owners and local governments arguing issues such as vested rights, constitutional matters, zoning ordinance interpretations, variances, annexations, special uses, site plans, subdivisions, and rezonings
- Represents commercial and residential developers in obtaining or opposing local government decisions such as rezonings, permitting, variances, annexations, special use permits, site plans, subdivisions, historic district permits, and road closings
- Represents clients before local Boards of Adjustment, City Councils, County Commissioners, historic preservation commissions and other local elected bodies
- Represents clients in property tax appeals before county boards and State Property Tax Commission
- Represents property owners in matters such as easement disputes, title disputes, adverse possession, restrictive covenants, zoning issues and property line disputes
- Represents parties making or opposing applications for local and national historic district designations
- Advises local governmental officials, bodies and boards on zoning amendments, zoning decisions, and historic preservation guidelines
Recent client representations include:
- One of the nation’s largest aggregate companies in obtaining local permits, zoning, and litigation matters
- Several landfill and asphalt companies in obtaining local permits and litigation involving vested rights and constitutional claims
- A commercial real estate developer working on a multi-parcel tract to become a major shopping center
- Several resort-based municipalities in issues regarding signage, lodging, retail zoning, and mobile home and RV park placement, and zoning ordinance interpretations
- Several coastal municipalities and counties in issues regarding development approval and regulation of waterways and beaches
Mangum v. Raleigh Board. of Adjustment, ___ N.C. App. ___, No. 06-1587 (April 2009)
MLC Auto., LLC v. Town of S. Pines, 532 F.3d 269 (4th Cir. 2008)
Quality Built Homes, Inc. V. Village of Pinehurst, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 61512 (M.D.N.C. 2008)
Meares v. Town of Beaufort, ___N.C. App.___, 667 S.E.2d 239 (2008) and ___N.C. App.___, 667 N.C. App. S.E.2d 244 (2008)
Coleman v. Town of Hillsborough, 2005 N.C. App. Lexis 2117, 619 S.E.2d 555 (2005)
Browing-Ferris Industries v. Wake County, 905 F. Supp. 312 (E.C.N.C 1995)
Town of Ayden v. Town of Winterville, 143 N.C. App. 136, S44 S.E.2d 821 (2001)
Kirkpatrick v. Pinehurst Village Council, 138 N.C. App. 79, 530 SE 2d 338 (2000)
Huntington Properties, LLC v. Currituck County, 153 N.C. App. 218, 569 S.E.2d 695 (2002)
read all representative experienceFirm Management Responsibilities
Robin serves as Co-Leader of the firm's Zoning, Land Use & Government Section.
Prior Legal Experience
Prior to joining Poyner Spruill, Robin served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Franklin T. Dupree, Jr., the U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina from 1990 to 1991.