Atty. Allen N. Trask

Atty. Allen N. Trask

Allen began his career as a traditional litigator focused on business and real estate disputes. Over time, his practice has expanded to include clients from a variety of markets with a variety of needs.

Wilmington Wilmington 17 yrs experience 17 year
Call (910) 794-4800 Book Appointment

Profile Summary

About Allen N. Trask at a glance

Allen N. Trask is a cannabis and agriculture attorney based in Wilmington, North Carolina, practicing at Ward and Smith PA. They have 17+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 2009. Admitted to practice in North Carolina, North Carolina Bar Association (2009). Educated at Campbell University (J.D., 2009) and East Carolina University (B.S., 2005). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Agriculture Law (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Cannabis Law (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Community Association Law (2026). Serands clients in Wilmington, NC and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Allen began his career as a traditional litigator focused on business and real estate disputes
  • Over time, his practice has expanded to include clients from a variety of markets with a variety of needs
  • Litigation and dispute resolution remain essential parts of his daily practice, but he also enjoys advising clients on a broad range of general legal, business, regulatory, and practical matters, craving the opportunity to serve as a trusted advisor
  • His unique and varied journey through the practice of law has led him to his current roles as co-leader of its Community Associations, Insurance Counseling and Recovery, and Hemp and Cannabis Law Practice Groups, and leader of the Firm's Agribusiness Practice Group
  • Allen also serves the Firm as the co-Geographic Team Leader for its Wilmington office and is a member of the advisory board for Ward and Smith Business Consulting
  • Working with North Carolina real estate developers and the community associations that they create was where Allen found his professional footing
  • He continues to handle a wide range of issues for these clients, including the preparation, amendment, interpretation, and enforcement of restrictive covenants and governing corporate documents, declarant control transition and disputes, fiduciary concerns, and collections
  • Allen's representation of community associations in disaster recovery cases gave rise to his interest in the insurance space, which he actively leverages for the Firm's clientele
  • His work with real estate developers goes beyond just their relationship with community associations and embraces both land use and zoning matters and commercial leasing and property management concerns
  • Allen also devotes a significant portion of his time to the Firm's diverse base of Agribusiness clients, which include farming and timber operations, crop storage facilities, equipment and inputs suppliers, and agritourism ventures
  • He coordinates the Firm's resources to address the specialized issues facing these clients, such as bona fide farm designations, farmland leases, crop insurance, corporate organization and succession planning, equipment financing and leasing, environmental concerns, and regulatory compliance and permitting
  • In 2015, partially as an outgrowth of his Agribusiness practice and borne also of a desire to develop work in emerging domestic markets, Allen began to work with clients in the hemp space, both in North Carolina and beyond
  • Tracking legal developments over the last several years, that representation has expanded to include clients both in and adjacent to the hemp and greater cannabis markets, and Allen currently helps guide the Firm's practice in those efforts

Practice Areas Explained

Allen N. Trask's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Allen N. Trask handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Cannabis & Marijuana Law

Cannabis attorneys for business licensing, regulatory compliance, and marijuana-related legal matters.

Allen N. Trask is one of 3,138 cannabis attorneys indexed nationally. Browse cannabis attorneys in North Carolina →

Agricultural Law

Agriculture attorneys for farm operations, ag finance, land use, water rights, and agribusiness.

Allen N. Trask is one of 4,793 agriculture attorneys indexed nationally. Browse agriculture attorneys in North Carolina →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in North Carolina

Practicing law in North Carolina. Legal matters in North Carolina are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Wilmington are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate North Carolina state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in North Carolina brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in North Carolina courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional North Carolina attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Wilmington or all attorneys in North Carolina.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Allen N. Trask

Where is Allen N. Trask's law office located?
Allen N. Trask's law practice is located in Wilmington, North Carolina. The firm is Ward and Smith PA. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Allen N. Trask handle?
Allen N. Trask focuses on cannabis, agriculture. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in North Carolina.
How long has Allen N. Trask practiced law?
Allen N. Trask has 17+ years of legal experience and has been licensed since 2009.
Where did Allen N. Trask go to law school?
Allen N. Trask earned their education at (J.D., 2009); (B.S., 2005).
How can I contact Allen N. Trask for a consultation?
You can contact Allen N. Trask directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Allen N. Trask received?
Allen N. Trask's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Agriculture Law; Best Lawyers in America — Cannabis Law; Best Lawyers in America — Community Association Law; Best Lawyers in America — Awards:; Best Lawyers in America — The Best Lawyer in America.

Education

J.D.
Campbell University
- 2009
B.S.
East Carolina University
- 2005

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Agriculture Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Cannabis Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Community Association Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — The Best Lawyer in America
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — , Best Lawyers, 2021-2024
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — "Future Star," Benchmark Litigation, 2024
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — "Rising Star," Business Litigation,
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — North Carolina Super Lawyers
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — , 2014-2023
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — "Legal Elite,"
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Business North Carolina
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — , Litigation, 2012 and 2014-2015, 2022-2023
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — "40 & Under List,"
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Benchmark Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — , 2018-2022
- 2026

Bar Admissions

North Carolina, North Carolina Bar Association
Admitted: 2009

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