*Interim CEO & President
As General Counsel, Byron Smith oversees the legal functions of GoTriangle. Byron, a graduate of NC Central University School of Law and a Johnston County native, has extensive legal experience in transportation, serving as general counsel at the Maryland Transit Administration and lead negotiator for numerous transit projects.
At MTA, Byron drafted operating and access agreements between MTA and its host railroads, Amtrak and CSXT. In earlier years, Smith also worked as deputy counsel in the Maryland Office of Attorney General and as assistant attorney general at MTA and for the Maryland Port Administration.
Byron began his legal career as an associate attorney general in the North Carolina Department of Justice. He came to GoTriangle from Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell LLP in Washington, D.C. As a partner there, Byron practiced in the rail, transit, highways, infrastructure, private-public partnerships, project delivery and litigation groups. He has acted as lead counsel on transit development projects, assuming responsibility for and leading teams of legal, engineering, finance and other professionals in the development of procurement, design and implementation of significant infrastructure projects.
Byron also is a former partner in Thigpen, Blue, Stephens and Fellers in Raleigh. He received a bachelors’ degree in political science and his juris doctorate from NC Central University in Durham.
