Biography

Rob is the managing partner of Hedrick Gardner’s Raleigh office.  Rob is a civil litigator and practices in both state and federal courts.  His practice focuses on defending businesses and individuals facing complex, high-exposure claims and lawsuits.  Rob has significant experience litigating cases involving products liability, premises liability, construction defects, professional liability, institutional defense, and commercial litigation.  Rob’s work in the products liability field has included defending designers, manufacturers, and sellers of products including medical devices, motor vehicles and their component parts, helmets, electrical devices, and other consumer goods.  His professional liability work has included the defense of real estate agents, appraisers, engineers, and architects.  Rob’s premises liability cases commonly involve personal injuries on retail and commercial premises but have also involved wrongful death and catastrophic injury claims arising from fires and explosions.  Rob has defended institutions such as universities, school systems, churches, and municipalities.  Rob has been included in Business North Carolina Magazine’s Legal Elite list.  He previously served a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys and in 2023 was selected for membership in the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC).

“One of the best aspects of my practice is the fact that each case and every client is different and I value being able to learn the details of my client’s businesses so that we can reach the most favorable and practical result.”

A lifelong North Carolinian, Rob graduated from Davidson College with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science while also playing for the Wildcats’ Division 1 baseball team. After college, Rob went on to earn his Juris Doctor degree from Wake Forest University School of Law. Rob has been married to his wife, Heather, since 2010 and they have two young children, Everett and Caroline.

Experience and Involvement

PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC INVOLVEMENT:

  • North Carolina Bar Association
  • Mecklenburg County Bar Association
  • North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys
    • Member, Board of Directors (2019-2022)
  • Defense Research Institute
Honors

HONORS: