Raleigh, N.C. (January 14, 2025) — Smith Debnam is pleased to announce that attorney Tiffani Atamas has been named a Partner at the firm. Since joining in 2022, Atamas has been a pivotal member of the Family Law team, known for her intensity and dedication to going above and beyond for her clients.
Atamas represents clients in a broad spectrum of family law matters, including separation and divorce, equitable distribution, alimony, post-separation support, child custody, child support, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and domestic violence cases. She focuses her practice on serving international clients and multicultural families, many facing cross-border divorce, custody, and child support challenges. Having been born in Japan and spent her early years moving between Japan and the United States, and now married to an immigrant from the Soviet Union and raising three biracial children with him, Atamas offers a unique perspective and understanding of intercultural relationships. Her background and experience are particularly valuable to immigrant and international families in the increasingly diverse Triangle area. In addition, her economics degree and former career as a Lehman Brothers investment banker and Walls Street securities lawyer make her uniquely qualified to help clients navigate complex equitable distribution and financial support issues.
“Tiffani brings immense value to our firm,” said Jerry Myers, Managing Partner at Smith Debnam. “Her exceptional ability to build meaningful connections with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds, especially international professionals and families, makes her an invaluable part of our team. We are excited to welcome her as a Partner and look forward to her continued success.”
Atamas earned her B.A. magna cum laude in Economics from Brown University in 2008 and her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2012. Prior to law school, she was an investment banker, and before transitioning to family law, she practiced corporate law in New York and Tokyo. She is admitted to practice law in both North Carolina and New York.
Atamas shared, “Becoming a Partner at Smith Debnam is an incredible honor. I am so grateful to the family law team at Smith Debnam who have supported me along this journey. I tell everybody that I love my job because it’s true. The practice of family law is deeply rewarding – it allows me to truly connect with people and lend a hand in the most challenging times in their lives. I am excited to continue to leverage my unique background to serve families in North Carolina.”
For over five decades, Smith Debnam has been at the forefront of legal excellence, serving as a trusted advisor to institutions and individuals across a wide range of industries. Their team of accomplished legal professionals combines experience, compassion, and a commitment to responsible representation. With headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, and a regional office in Charleston, South Carolina, Smith Debnam is strategically positioned to provide comprehensive legal services throughout the region. Their extensive experience in state and federal courts allows the firm to navigate diverse practice areas, including Litigation, Creditors’ Rights, Transactional and Advisory Services, Divorce and Family Law, and Personal Representation.
