RALEIGH, N.C. — Poyner Spruill LLP is honored to welcome former Charlotte City Attorney Bob Hagemann to the firm as a partner, effective August 1. He will deepen and strengthen the firm’s already extensive local government practice.
Hagemann brings more than 30 years of legal experience to Poyner Spruill, including 24 as an attorney with the City of Charlotte. He started as an Assistant City Attorney in January 1995, and served in the roles of Senior Assistant City Attorney, Senior Deputy City Attorney, and City Attorney during his tenure.
As City Attorney from 2012 to 2018, Hagemann represented and advised the mayor, city council, city manager, and staff on all legal matters. He also managed 21 attorneys and seven staff members.
“An attorney of Bob’s stature further strengthens our position as a leader in representing North Carolina’s local governments,” Poyner Spruill managing partner Dan Cahill said. “We pride ourselves on delivering consistently excellent legal service to meet the needs of our clients, and we are excited to have Bob join us and be a part of this great work.”
During his tenure as Charlotte City Attorney, Hagemann was called upon to handle a number of exceptional matters. He provided legal advice and services related to the 2012 Democratic National Convention, which avoided all litigation; negotiated terms for Charlotte to host the 2020 Republican National Convention; helped forge an agreement with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers to effectively tether the team to Charlotte for the first time; and successfully developed and executed a litigation strategy that ultimately persuaded a court to strike down legislation that would have removed control of Charlotte Douglas International Airport from the City.
Hagemann’s experience includes four years in private practice, as well as serving as Assistant General Counsel with the North Carolina League of Municipalities.
“I’m excited for my return to private practice and the opportunity to bring unique insight to the government-related matters that Poyner Spruill handles,” Hagemann said. “Having worked with Poyner Spruill attorneys in their role as outside counsel for the City of Charlotte, I know and appreciate the value and high-level service that the firm provides to local governments, as well as to private-sector clients whose interests intersect with the government. I look forward to working in this new role to maintain Poyner Spruill’s deserved reputation as a North Carolina leader in these areas.”
Hagemann joins an already accomplished group of attorneys within the firm’s local government practice, including other attorneys who have served as city and county attorneys. Together, these attorneys cover a broad spectrum of government-related issues facing local governments and private-sector clients, with a particular emphasis on land use and zoning issues, property tax appeals, environmental issues, open meeting and public records compliance, regulatory and constitutional litigation, and employment issues.
“I am excited to call Bob my colleague, and to continue a great relationship that started years ago in our work together on the Charlotte airport litigation,” partner Drew Erteschik said. “Bob has earned the respect of city and county attorneys across the state, and for good reason. We are honored that Bob has chosen Poyner Spruill.”
Hagemann completed his undergraduate degree in political science at Northwestern University before earning his Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina School of Law. He is a recipient of the Ernest H. Ball Award for Excellence in Municipal Law, a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, a past president of the North Carolina Association of Municipal Attorneys, a past North Carolina state chair of the International Municipal Attorneys Association, and a recipient of the North Carolina Open Government Coalition Sunshine Award.
