Richard Vinroot Honored with Chief Justice’s Professionalism Award

Robinson Bradshaw attorney Richard A. Vinroot received the North Carolina Chief Justice’s Professionalism Award, presented annually to an individual whose contributions have demonstrated the highest commitment to genuine professionalism and the highest standards of legal ethics. Chief Justice Paul Newby presented the award to Vinroot at a ceremony in Raleigh.

Service to others is evidenced throughout Vinroot’s career, beginning with service to his country during a yearlong Army deployment to Vietnam for which he received a Bronze Star. Vinroot was mayor of Charlotte for four years, after serving eight years on the City Council. He co-founded Sugar Creek Charter School to provide an education for children in need, and subsequently spent nearly 20 years on the school’s board of directors. Vinroot has also been active with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte, Myers Park Presbyterian Church, the UNC Nutrition Research Institute and Boy Scouts.

Vinroot has practiced litigation at Robinson Bradshaw for more than 50 years, with a current focus on land use and zoning, real estate development and construction, and employment matters. Vinroot received his law degree and his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a John Motley Morehead Scholar and varsity basketball player under Dean Smith. In 2022, he received the UNC-Chapel Hill board of trustees’ highest honor, the William Richardson Davie Award for exemplary dedication, commitment and service to the university.